3-(3-pyrimidin-2-ylbenzyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives as MET kinase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

Compounds of the formula (I), in which R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 3′ , R 4  have the meanings indicated in Claim  1 , are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular of Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention had the object of finding novel compounds having valuable properties, in particular those which can be used for the preparation of medicaments.

The present invention relates to compounds and to the use of compounds in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of signal transduction by kinases, in particular tyrosine kinases and/or serine/threonine kinases, plays a role, furthermore to pharmaceutical compositions which comprise these compounds, and to the use of the compounds for the treatment of kinase-induced diseases.

In particular, the present invention relates to compounds and to the use of compounds in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of signal transduction by Met kinase plays a role.

One of the principal mechanisms by which cellular regulation is effected is through the transduction of extracellular signals across the membrane that in turn modulate biochemical pathways within the cell. Protein phosphorylation represents one course by which intracellular signals are propagated from molecule to molecule resulting finally in a cellular response. These signal transduction cascades are highly regulated and often overlap, as is evident from the existence of many protein kinases as well as phosphatases. Phosphorylation of proteins occurs predominantly at serine, threonine or tyrosine residues, and protein kinases have therefore been classified by their specificity of phosphorylation site, i.e. serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine kinases. Since phosphorylation is such a ubiquitous process within cells and since cellular phenotypes are largely influenced by the activity of these pathways, it is currently believed that a number of disease states and/or diseases are attributable to either aberrant activation or functional mutations in the molecular components of kinase cascades. Consequently, considerable attention has been devoted to the characterisation of these proteins and compounds that are able to modulate their activity (for a review see: Weinstein-Oppenheimer et al. Pharma. &. Therap., 2000, 88, 229-279).

The role of the receptor tyrosine kinase Met in human oncogenesis and the possibility of inhibition of HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) dependent Met activation are described by S. Berthou et al. in Oncogene, Vol. 23, No. 31, pages 5387-5393 (2004). The inhibitor SU11274 described therein, a pyrrole-indoline compound, is potentially suitable for combating cancer. Another Met kinase inhibitor for cancer therapy is described by J. G. Christensen et al. in Cancer Res. 2003, 63(21), 7345-55.

A further tyrosine kinase inhibitor for combating cancer is reported by H. Hov et al. in Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 10, 6686-6694 (2004). The compound PHA-665752, an indole derivative, is directed against the HGF receptor c-Met. It is furthermore reported therein that HGF and Met make a considerable contribution to the malignant process of various forms of cancer, such as, for example, multiple myeloma.

The synthesis of small compounds which specifically inhibit, regulate and/or modulate signal transduction by tyrosine kinases and/or serine/threonine kinases, in particular Met kinase, is therefore desirable and an aim of the present invention.

It has been found that the compounds according to the invention and salts thereof have very valuable pharmacological properties while being well tolerated.

The present invention specifically relates to compounds of the formula I which inhibit, regulate and/or modulate signal transduction by Met kinase, to compositions which comprise these compounds, and to processes for the use thereof for the treatment of Met kinase-induced diseases and complaints, such as angiogenesis, cancer, tumour formation, growth and propagation, arteriosclerosis, ocular diseases, such as age-induced macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularisation and diabetic retinopathy, inflammatory diseases, arthritis, thrombosis, fibrosis, glomerulonephritis, neurodegeneration, psoriasis, restenosis, wound healing, transplant rejection, metabolic diseases and diseases of the immune system, also auto-immune diseases, cirrhosis, diabetes and diseases of the blood vessels, also instability and permeability and the like in mammals.

Solid tumours, in particular fast-growing tumours, can be treated with Met kinase inhibitors. These solid tumours include monocytic leukaemia, brain, urogenital, lymphatic system, stomach, laryngeal and lung carcinoma, including lung adenocarcinoma and small-cell lung carcinoma.

The present invention is directed to processes for the regulation, modulation or inhibition of Met kinase for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in connection with unregulated or disturbed Met kinase activity. In particular, the compounds of the formula I can also be employed in the treatment of certain forms of cancer. The compounds of the formula I can furthermore be used to provide additive or synergistic effects in certain existing cancer chemotherapies, and/or can be used to restore the efficacy of certain existing cancer chemotherapies and radiotherapies.

The compounds of the formula I can furthermore be used for the isolation and investigation of the activity or expression of Met kinase. In addition, they are particularly suitable for use in diagnostic methods for diseases in connection with unregulated or disturbed Met kinase activity.

It can be shown that the compounds according to the invention have an antiproliferative action in vivo in a xenotransplant tumour model. The compounds according to the invention are administered to a patient having a hyperproliferative disease, for example to inhibit tumour growth, to reduce inflammation associated with a lymphoproliferative disease, to inhibit transplant rejection or neurological damage due to tissue repair, etc. The present compounds are suitable for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes. As used herein, the term “treatment” is used to refer to both prevention of diseases and treatment of pre-existing conditions. The prevention of proliferation is achieved by administration of the compounds according to the invention prior to the development of overt disease, for example to prevent the growth of tumours, prevent metastatic growth, diminish restenosis associated with cardiovascular surgery, etc. Alternatively, the compounds are used for the treatment of ongoing diseases by stabilising or improving the clinical symptoms of the patient.

The host or patient can belong to any mammalian species, for example a primate species, particularly humans; rodents, including mice, rats and hamsters; rabbits; horses, cows, dogs, cats, etc. Animal models are of interest for experimental investigations, providing a model for treatment of human disease.

The susceptibility of a particular cell to treatment with the compounds according to the invention can be determined by in vitro tests. Typically, a culture of the cell is combined with a compound according to the invention at various concentrations for a period of time which is sufficient to allow the active agents to induce cell death or to inhibit migration, usually between about one hour and one week. In vitro testing can be carried out using cultivated cells from a biopsy sample. The viable cells remaining after the treatment are then counted.

The dose varies depending on the specific compound used, the specific disease, the patient status, etc. A therapeutic dose is typically sufficient considerably to reduce the undesired cell population in the target tissue while the viability of the patient is maintained. The treatment is generally continued until a considerable reduction has occurred, for example an at least about 50% reduction in the cell burden, and may be continued until essentially no more undesired cells are detected in the body.

For identification of a signal transduction pathway and for detection of interactions between various signal transduction pathways, various scientists have developed suitable models or model systems, for example cell culture models (for example Khwaja et al., EMBO, 1997, 16, 2783-93) and models of transgenic animals (for example White et al., Oncogene, 2001, 20, 7064-7072). For the determination of certain stages in the signal transduction cascade, interacting compounds can be utilised in order to modulate the signal (for example Stephens et al., Biochemical J., 2000, 351, 95-105). The compounds according to the invention can also be used as reagents for testing kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways in animals and/or cell culture models or in the clinical diseases mentioned in this application.

Measurement of the kinase activity is a technique which is well known to the person skilled in the art. Generic test systems for the determination of the kinase activity using substrates, for example histone (for example Alessi et al., FEBS Lett. 1996, 399, 3, pages 333-338) or the basic myelin protein, are described in the literature (for example Campos-González, R. and Glenney, Jr., J. R. 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267, page 14535).

For the identification of kinase inhibitors, various assay systems are available. In scintillation proximity assay (Sorg et al., J. of Biomolecular Screening, 2002, 7, 11-19) and flashplate assay, the radioactive phosphorylation of a protein or peptide as substrate with γATP is measured. In the presence of an inhibitory compound, a decreased radioactive signal, or none at all, is detectable. Furthermore, homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (HTR-FRET) and fluorescence polarisation (FP) technologies are suitable as assay methods (Sills et al., J. of Biomolecular Screening, 2002, 191-214).

Other non-radioactive ELISA assay methods use specific phospho anti-bodies (phospho ABs). The phospho AB binds only the phosphorylated substrate. This binding can be detected by chemiluminescence using a second peroxidase-conjugated anti-sheep antibody (Ross et al., 2002, Biochem. J.).

There are many diseases associated with deregulation of cellular proliferation and cell death (apoptosis). The conditions of interest include, but are not limited to, the following. The compounds according to the invention are suitable for the treatment of various conditions where there is proliferation and/or migration of smooth muscle cells and/or inflammatory cells into the intimal layer of a vessel, resulting in restricted blood flow through that vessel, for example in the case of neointimal occlusive lesions. Occlusive graft vascular diseases of interest include atherosclerosis, coronary vascular disease after grafting, vein graft stenosis, peri-anastomatic prosthetic restenosis, restenosis after angioplasty or stent placement, and the like.

PRIOR ART

Other triazolopyridazine derivatives are described as Met kinase inhibitors in WO 2007/064797, WO 2007/075567, WO 2007/138472, WO 2008/008539, WO 2008/051805.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to compounds of the formula I

in which

-   R¹ denotes Ar, Het or A, -   R² denotes H, A, Hal, OR⁵, N(R⁵)₂, N═CR⁵N(R⁵)₂, SR⁵, NO₂, CN, COOR⁵,     CON(R⁵)₂, NR⁵COA, NR⁵SO₂A, SO₂N(R⁵)₂, S(O)_(m)A, Het,     —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂,     O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, S[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, S[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het,     —NR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, —NR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, NHCON(R⁵)₂,     NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n-)Het,     NHCO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, CON(R⁵)₂,     CONR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, CONR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, COHet or COA, -   R³, R^(3′) each, independently of one another, denote H, F or A,     together also denote alkylene having 2-5 C atoms, -   R⁴ denotes H, A or Hal, -   R⁵ denotes H or A, -   A denotes unbranched or branched alkyl having 1-10 C atoms, in which     1-7 H atoms may be replaced by OH, F, Cl and/or Br,     -   and/or in which one or two CH₂ groups may be replaced by O, NH,         S, SO, SO₂ and/or CH═CH groups,     -   or     -   cyclic alkyl having 3-7 C atoms, -   Ar denotes phenyl, naphthyl or biphenyl, each of which is     unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal, A, OR⁵,     N(R⁵)₂, SR⁵, NO₂, CN, COOR⁵, CON(R⁵)₂, NR⁵COA, NR⁵SO₂A, SO₂N(R⁵)₂     and/or S(O)_(m)A, -   Het denotes a mono-, bi- or tricyclic saturated, unsaturated or     aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which may be     unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal, A, OR⁵,     N(R⁵)₂, SR⁵, NO₂, CN, COOR⁵, CON(R⁵)₂, NR⁵COA, NR⁵SO₂A, SO₂N(R⁵)₂,     S(O)_(m)A, CO-Het¹, Het¹, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹,     O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, NHCOOA, NHCON(R⁵)₂,     NHCOO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCOO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹,     NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹,     OCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, OCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, CO-Het¹, CHO, COA,     ═S, ═NH, ═NA and/or ═O (carbonyl oxygen), -   Het¹ denotes a monocyclic saturated heterocycle having 1 to 2 N     and/or O atoms, which may be mono- or disubstituted by A, OA, OH,     Hal and/or ═O (carbonyl oxygen), -   Hal denotes F, Cl, Br or I, -   m denotes 0, 1 or 2, -   n denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4,     and pharmaceutically usable salts, tautomers and stereoisomers     thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios,

Compounds of the formula I are also taken to mean the hydrates and solvates of these compounds, furthermore pharmaceutically usable derivatives.

The invention also relates to the optically active forms (stereoisomers), the enantiomers, the racemates, the diastereomers and the hydrates and solvates of these compounds. Solvates of the compounds are taken to mean adductions of inert solvent molecules onto the compounds which form owing to their mutual attractive force. Solvates are, for example, mono- or dihydrates or alcoholates.

Pharmaceutically usable derivatives are taken to mean, for example, the salts of the compounds according to the invention and also so-called pro-drug compounds.

Prodrug derivatives are taken to mean compounds of the formula I which have been modified by means of, for example, alkyl or acyl groups, sugars or oligopeptides and which are rapidly cleaved in the organism to form the effective compounds according to the invention.

These also include biodegradable polymer derivatives of the compounds according to the invention, as described, for example, in Int. J. Pharm. 115, 61-67 (1995).

The expression “effective amount” denotes the amount of a medicament or of a pharmaceutical active ingredient which causes in a tissue, system, animal or human a biological or medical response which is sought or desired, for example, by a researcher or physician.

In addition, the expression “therapeutically effective amount” denotes an amount which, compared with a corresponding subject who has not received this amount, has the following consequence:

improved treatment, healing, prevention or elimination of a disease, syndrome, condition, complaint, disorder or side effects or also the reduction in the advance of a disease, complaint or disorder.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” also encompasses the amounts which are effective for increasing normal physiological function.

The invention also relates to the use of mixtures of the compounds of the formula I, for example mixtures of two diastereomers, for example in the ratio 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:10, 1:100 or 1:1000.

These are particularly preferably mixtures of stereoisomeric compounds.

The invention relates to the compounds of the formula I and salts thereof and to a process for the preparation of compounds of the formula I according to Claims 1-12 and pharmaceutically usable salts, tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, characterised in that

-   a) a compound of the formula II

-   -   in which R¹, R³, R^(3′) and R⁴ have the meanings indicated in         Claim 1 and     -   L denotes a boron acid or boron acid ester radical,

Is reacted with a compound of the formula III

-   -   in which R² has the meaning indicated in Claim 1,         or

-   b) a radical R² is replaced by another radical R² by replacing a     halogen atom by an amino, alkoxy or aryl radical,     a base or acid of the formula I is converted into one of its salts.

Above and below, the radicals R¹, R², R³, R^(3′) and R⁴ have the meanings indicated for the formula I, unless expressly stated otherwise.

A denotes alkyl, is unbranched (linear) or branched, and has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 C atoms. A preferably denotes methyl, furthermore ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl, furthermore also pentyl, 1-, 2- or 3-methylbutyl, 1,1-, 1,2- or 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-propyl, hexyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-, 1,2-, 1,3-, 2,2-, 2,3- or 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1- or 2-ethylbutyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, 1,1,2- or 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, further preferably, for example, trifluoromethyl.

A very particularly preferably denotes alkyl having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 C atoms, preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl or 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl.

Cyclic alkyl (cycloalkyl) preferably denotes cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cylopentyl, cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl.

-   R¹ particularly preferably denotes thiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl,     pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl,     thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl, -   where the radicals may also be mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal,     [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or A, -   or -   phenyl which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal and/or CN -   or -   A. -   R² preferably denotes H, OH, OA, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵, Hal, Het,     —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het or O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het. -   R⁴ preferably denotes H.

Ar denotes, for example, phenyl, o-, m- or p-tolyl, o-, m- or p-ethylphenyl, o-, m- or p-propylphenyl, o-, m- or p-isopropylphenyl, o-, m- or p-tert-butyl-phenyl, o-, m- or p-hydroxyphenyl, o-, m- or p-nitrophenyl, o-, m- or p-aminophenyl, o-, m- or p-(N-methylamino)phenyl, o-, m- or p-(N-methyl-aminocarbonyl)phenyl, o-, m- or p-acetamidophenyl, o-, m- or p-methoxy-phenyl, o-, m- or p-ethoxyphenyl, o-, m- or p-ethoxycarbonylphenyl, o-, m- or p-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl, o-, m- or p-(N,N-dimethylaminocarbonyl)-phenyl, o-, m- or p-(N-ethylamino)phenyl, o-, m- or p-(N,N-diethylamino)-phenyl, o-, m- or p-fluorophenyl, o-, m- or p-bromophenyl, o-, m- or p-chlorophenyl, o-, m- or p-(methylsulfonamido)phenyl, o-, m- or p-(methyl-sulfonyl)phenyl, o-, m- or p-methylsulfanylphenyl, o-, m- or p-cyanophenyl, o-, m- or p-carboxyphenyl, o-, m- or p-methoxycarbonylphenyl, o-, m- or p-aminosulfonylphenyl, further preferably 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- or 3,5-difluorophenyl, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- or 3,5-dichlorophenyl, 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- or 3,5-dibromophenyl, 2,4- or 2,5-dinitrophenyl, 2,5- or 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 3-nitro-4-chlorophenyl, 3-amino-4-chloro-, 2-amino-3-chloro-, 2-amino-4-chloro-, 2-amino-5-chloro- or 2-amino-6-chlorophenyl, 2-nitro-4-N,N-dimethylamino- or 3-nitro-4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl, 2,3-diaminophenyl, 2,3,4-, 2,3,5-, 2,3,6-, 2,4,6- or 3,4,5-trichlorophenyl, 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl, 2-hydroxy-3,5-dichlorophenyl, p-iodophenyl, 3,6-dichloro-4-aminophenyl, 4-fluoro-3-chlorophenyl, 2-fluoro-4-bromophenyl, 2,5-difluoro-4-bromophenyl, 3-bromo-6-methoxyphenyl, 3-chloro-6-meth-oxyphenyl, 3-chloro-4-acetamidophenyl, 3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl, 3-amino-6-methylphenyl, 3-chloro-4-acetamidophenyl or 2,5-dimethyl-4-chlorophenyl.

Ar particularly preferably denotes phenyl which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal and/or CN.

Irrespective of further substitutions, Het denotes, for example, 2- or 3-furyl, 2- or 3-thienyl, 1-, 2- or 3-pyrrolyl, 1-, 2,4- or 5-imidazolyl, 1-, 3-, 4- or 5-pyrazolyl, 2-, 4- or 5-oxazolyl, 3-, 4- or 5-isoxazolyl, 2-, 4- or 5-thiazolyl, 3-, 4- or 5-isothiazolyl, 2-, 3- or 4-pyridyl, 2-, 4-, 5- or 6-pyrimidinyl, furthermore preferably 1,2,3-triazol-1-, -4- or -5-yl, 1,2,4-triazol-1-, -3- or 5-yl, 1- or 5-tetrazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-4- or -5-yl, 1,2,4-oxadiazol-3- or -5-yl, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2- or -5-yl, 1,2,4-thiadiazol-3- or -5-yl, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-4- or -5-yl, 3- or 4-pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-indolyl, 4- or 5-isoindolyl, indazolyl, 1-, 2-, 4- or 5-benzimidazolyl, 1-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzopyrazolyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzoxazolyl, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzisoxazolyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzothiazolyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benzisothiazolyl, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-benz-2,1,3-oxadiazolyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-quinolyl, 1-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-isoquinolyl, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-cinnolinyl, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-quinazolinyl, 5- or 6-quinoxalinyl, 2-, 3-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-2H-benzo-1,4-oxazinyl, further preferably 1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl, 1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl, 2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4- or -5-yl, 2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-5-yl or dibenzofuranyl.

The heterocyclic radicals may also be partially or fully hydrogenated. Irrespective of further substitutions, Het, can thus also denote, for example, 2,3-dihydro-2-, -3-, -4- or -5-furyl, 2,5-dihydro-2-, -3-, -4- or 5-furyl, tetrahydro-2- or -3-furyl, 1,3-dioxolan-4-yl, tetrahydro-2- or -3-thienyl, 2,3-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-pyrrolyl, 2,5-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-pyrrolyl, 1-, 2- or 3-pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydro-1-, -2- or -4-imidazolyl, 2,3-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-pyrazolyl, tetrahydro-1-, -3- or -4-pyrazolyl, 1,4-dihydro-1-, -2-, -3- or -4-pyridyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5- or -6-pyridyl, 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-piperidinyl, 2-, 3- or 4-morpholinyl, tetrahydro-2-, -3- or -4-pyranyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, 1,3-dioxan-2-, -4- or -5-yl, hexahydro-1-, -3- or -4-pyridazinyl, hexahydro-1-, -2-, -4- or -5-pyrimidinyl, 1-, 2- or 3-piperazinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7- or -8-quinolyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7- or -8-isoquinolyl, 2-, 3-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo-1,4-oxazinyl, further preferably 2,3-methylenedioxyphenyl, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl, 2,3-ethylenedioxyphenyl, 3,4-ethylenedioxyphenyl, 3,4-(difluoromethylenedioxy)phenyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5- or 6-yl, 2,3-(2-oxomethylenedioxy)phenyl or also 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,5-benzodioxepin-6- or -7-yl, furthermore preferably 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, 2,3-dihydro-2-oxofuranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-quinazolinyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzoxazolyl, 2-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzoxazolyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzimidazolyl, 1,3-dihydroindole, 2-oxo-1,3-dihydroindole or 2-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzimidazolyl.

Het particularly preferably denotes a monocyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which may be un-substituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹.

Het very particularly preferably denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, furyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl or imidazolidinyl, where the radicals may also be mono- or disubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹.

Het¹ preferably denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl or imidazolidinyl, where the radicals may also be mono- or disubstituted by ═O and/or A.

Hal preferably denotes F, Cl or Br, but also I, particularly preferably F or Cl.

Throughout the invention, all radicals which occur more than once may be identical or different, i.e. are independent of one another.

The compounds of the formula I may have one or more chiral centres and can therefore occur in various stereoisomeric forms. The formula I encompasses all these forms.

Accordingly, the invention relates, in particular, to the compounds of the formula I in which at least one of the said radicals has one of the preferred meanings indicated above. Some preferred groups of compounds may be expressed by the following sub-formulae Ia to Ij, which conform to the formula I and in which the radicals not designated in greater detail have the meaning indicated for the formula I, but in which

-   in Ia R² denotes H, OH, OA, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵, Hal, Het,     —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het or O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het; -   in Ib Ar denotes phenyl which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal     and/or CN; -   in Ic A denotes unbranched or branched alkyl having 1-6 C atoms; -   in Id R⁴ denotes H; -   in Ie R¹ denotes thiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl,     isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiadiazolyl,     pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl, where the radicals     may also be mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵     and/or A,     -   or     -   phenyl which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal and/or     -   CN     -   or     -   A; -   in If Het denotes a monocyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic     heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which may be     unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵     and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹; -   in Ig Het denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl,     piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, furyl,     thienyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl or     imidazolidinyl, where the radicals may also be mono- or     disubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹; -   in Ih Het¹ denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl,     piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl or imidazolidinyl, where the radicals may     also be mono- or disubstituted by ═O and/or A; -   in Ii     -   R¹ denotes Ar, Het or A,     -   R² denotes H, OH, OA, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵, Hal, Het,         —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het or O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het,     -   R³, R^(3′) each, independently of one another, denote H, F or A,         together also denote alkylene having 2-5 C atoms,     -   R⁴ denotes H,     -   R⁵ denotes H or A,     -   A denotes unbranched or branched alkyl having 1-6 C atoms,     -   Ar denotes phenyl which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal         and/or CN,     -   Het denotes a monocyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic         heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which may be         unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by A,         [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R³)₂]_(n)Het¹,     -   Het¹ denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl,         piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl or imidazolidinyl, where the radicals         may also be mono- or disubstituted by ═O and/or A,     -   Hal denotes F, Cl, Br or I,     -   n denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4;         and pharmaceutically usable salts, tautomers and stereoisomers         thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios.

The compounds of the formula I and also the starting materials for their preparation are, in addition, prepared by methods known per se, as described in the literature (for example in the standard works, such as Houben-Weyl, Methoden der organischen Chemie [Methods of Organic Chemistry], Georg-Thieme-Verlag, Stuttgart), to be precise under reaction conditions which are known and suitable for the said reactions. Use can also be made here of variants known per se which are not mentioned here in greater detail.

Compounds of the formula I can preferably be obtained by reacting a compound of the formula II with a compound of the formula III.

The reaction is carried out under conditions as are known to the person skilled in the art for a Suzuki reaction.

The starting compounds of the formulae II and III are generally known. If they are novel, however, they can be prepared by methods known per se. In the compounds of the formula II, L preferably denotes

The reaction is carried out under standard conditions of a Suzuki coupling. Depending on the conditions used, the reaction time is between a few minutes and 14 days, the reaction temperature is between about −30° and 140°, normally between 0° and 100°, in particular between about 60° and about 90°.

Suitable inert solvents are, for example, hydrocarbons, such as hexane, petroleum ether, benzene, toluene or xylene; chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform or dichloromethane; alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol or tert-butanol; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran (THF) or dioxane; glycol ethers, such as ethylene glycol monomethyl or monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme); ketones, such as acetone or butanone; amides, such as acetamide, dimethylacetamide or dimethylformamide (DMF); nitriles, such as acetonitrile; sulfoxides, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); carbon disulfide; carboxylic acids, such as formic acid or acetic acid; nitro compounds, such as nitromethane or nitrobenzene; esters, such as ethyl acetate, or mixtures of the said solvents.

Particular preference is given to ethanol, toluene, dimethoxyethane.

Compounds of the formula I can furthermore preferably be obtained by replacing a radical R² by another radical R². Preferably, a halogen atom is replaced by an amino, alkoxy or aryl radical. The reaction is preferably carried out under the conditions of a Suzuki coupling.

It is furthermore possible to convert a compound of the formula I into another compound of the formula I by converting a radical R² into another radical R², for example by reducing nitro groups to amino groups (for example by hydrogenation on Raney nickel or Pd/carbon in an inert solvent, such as methanol or ethanol).

Furthermore, free amino groups can be acylated in a conventional manner using an acid chloride or anhydride or alkylated using an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl halide, advantageously in an inert solvent, such as dichloromethane or THF, and/or in the presence of a base, such as triethylamine or pyridine, at temperatures between −60 and +30°.

The compounds of the formula I can furthermore be obtained by liberating them from their functional derivatives by solvolysis, in particular hydrolysis, or by hydrogenolysis.

Preferred starting materials for the solvolysis or hydrogenolysis are those which contain corresponding protected amino and/or hydroxyl groups instead of one or more free amino and/or hydroxyl groups, preferably those which carry an amino-protecting group instead of an H atom bonded to an N atom, for example those which conform to the formula I, but contain an NHR′ group (in which R′ is an amino-protecting group, for example BOC or CBZ) instead of an NH₂ group.

Preference is furthermore given to starting materials which carry a hydroxyl-protecting group instead of the H atom of a hydroxyl group, for example those which conform to the formula I, but contain an R″O-phenyl group (in which R″ is a hydroxyl-protecting group) instead of a hydroxyphenyl group.

It is also possible for a plurality of—identical or different—protected amino and/or hydroxyl groups to be present in the molecule of the starting material. If the protecting groups present are different from one another, they can in many cases be cleaved off selectively.

The term “amino-protecting group” is known in general terms and relates to groups which are suitable for protecting (blocking) an amino group against chemical reactions, but are easy to remove after the desired chemical reaction has been carried out elsewhere in the molecule. Typical of such groups are, in particular, unsubstituted or substituted acyl, aryl, aralkoxymethyl or aralkyl groups. Since the amino-protecting groups are removed after the desired reaction (or reaction sequence), their type and size are furthermore not crucial; however, preference is given to those having 1-20, in particular 1-8, carbon atoms. The term “acyl group” is to be understood in the broadest sense in connection with the present process. It includes acyl groups derived from aliphatic, araliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic carboxylic acids or sulfonic acids, and, in particular, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl and especially aralkoxycarbonyl groups. Examples of such acyl groups are alkanoyl, such as acetyl, propionyl and butyryl; aralkanoyl, such as phenylacetyl; aroyl, such as benzoyl and tolyl; aryloxyalkanoyl, such as POA; alkoxycarbonyl, such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, BOC and 2-iodoethoxycarbonyl; aralkoxycarbonyl, such as CBZ (“carbobenzoxy”), 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl and FMOC; and arylsulfonyl, such as Mtr, Pbf and Pmc. Preferred amino-protecting groups are BOC and Mtr, furthermore CBZ, Fmoc, benzyl and acetyl.

The term “hydroxyl-protecting group” is likewise known in general terms and relates to groups which are suitable for protecting a hydroxyl group against chemical reactions, but are easy to remove after the desired chemical reaction has been carried out elsewhere in the molecule. Typical of such groups are the above-mentioned unsubstituted or substituted aryl, aralkyl or acyl groups, furthermore also alkyl groups. The nature and size of the hydroxyl-protecting groups are not crucial since they are removed again after the desired chemical reaction or reaction sequence; preference is given to groups having 1-20, in particular 1-10, carbon atoms. Examples of hydroxyl-protecting groups are, inter alia, tert-butoxycarbonyl, benzyl, p-nitrobenzoyl, p-toluenesulfonyl, tert-butyl and acetyl, where benzyl and tert-butyl are particularly preferred. The COOH groups in aspartic acid and glutamic acid are preferably protected in the form of their tert-butyl esters (for example Asp(OBut)).

The compounds of the formula I are liberated from their functional derivatives—depending on the protecting group used—for example using strong acids, advantageously using TFA or perchloric acid, but also using other strong inorganic acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, strong organic carboxylic acids, such as trichloroacetic acid, or sulfonic acids, such as benzene- or p-toluenesulfonic acid. The presence of an additional inert solvent is possible, but is not always necessary. Suitable inert solvents are preferably organic, for example carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid, ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, amides, such as DMF, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as dichloromethane, furthermore also alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol or isopropanol, and water. Mixtures of the above-mentioned solvents are furthermore suitable. TFA is preferably used in excess without addition of a further solvent, and perchloric acid is preferably used in the form of a mixture of acetic acid and 70% perchloric acid in the ratio 9:1. The reaction temperatures for the cleavage are advantageously between about 0 and about 50°, preferably between 15 and 30° (room temperature).

The BOC, OBut, Pbf, Pmc and Mtr groups can, for example, preferably be cleaved off using TFA in dichloromethane or using approximately 3 to 5N HCl in dioxane at 15-30°, and the FMOC group can be cleaved off using an approximately 5 to 50% solution of dimethylamine, diethylamine or piperidine in DMF at 15-30°.

The trityl group is employed to protect the amino acids histidine, asparagine, glutamine and cysteine. They are cleaved off, depending on the desired end product, using TFA/10% thiophenol, with the trityl group being cleaved off from all the said amino acids; on use of TFA/anisole or TFA/thioanisole, only the trityl group of His, Asn and Gln is cleaved off, whereas it remains on the Cys side chain.

The Pbf (pentamethylbenzofuranyl) group is employed to protect Arg. It is cleaved off using, for example, TFA in dichloromethane.

Hydrogenolytically removable protecting groups (for example CBZ or benzyl) can be cleaved off, for example, by treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst (for example a noble-metal catalyst, such as palladium, advantageously on a support, such as carbon). Suitable solvents here are those indicated above, in particular, for example, alcohols, such as methanol or ethanol, or amides, such as DMF. The hydrogenolysis is generally carried out at temperatures between about 0 and 100° and pressures between about 1 and 200 bar, preferably at 20-30° and 1-10 bar. Hydrogenolysis of the CBZ group succeeds well, for example, on 5 to 10% Pd/C in methanol or using ammonium formate (instead of hydrogen) on Pd/C in methanol/DMF at 20-30°.

Pharmaceutical Salts and Other Forms

The said compounds according to the invention can be used in their final non-salt form. On the other hand, the present invention also encompasses the use of these compounds in the form of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, which can be derived from various organic and inorganic acids and bases by procedures known in the art. Pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms of the compounds of the formula I are for the most part prepared by conventional methods. If the compound of the formula I contains a carboxyl group, one of its suitable salts can be formed by reacting the compound with a suitable base to give the corresponding base-addition salt. Such bases are, for example, alkali metal hydroxides, including potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide; alkaline earth metal hydroxides, such as barium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide; alkali metal alkoxides, for example potassium ethoxide and sodium propoxide; and various organic bases, such as piperidine, diethanolamine and N-methyl-glutamine. The aluminium salts of the compounds of the formula I are likewise included. In the case of certain compounds of the formula I, acid-addition salts can be formed by treating these compounds with pharmaceutically acceptable organic and inorganic acids, for example hydrogen halides, such as hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide or hydrogen iodide, other mineral acids and corresponding salts thereof, such as sulfate, nitrate or phosphate and the like, and alkyl- and monoarylsulfonates, such as ethanesulfonate, toluenesulfonate and benzenesulfonate, and other organic acids and corresponding salts thereof, such as acetate, trifluoroacetate, tartrate, maleate, succinate, citrate, benzoate, salicylate, ascorbate and the like. Accordingly, pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition salts of the compounds of the formula I include the following: acetate, adipate, alginate, arginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate (besylate), bisulfate, bisulfite, bromide, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, caprylate, chloride, chlorobenzoate, citrate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dihydrogenphosphate, dinitrobenzoate, dodecylsulfate, ethane-sulfonate, fumarate, galacterate (from mucic acid), galacturonate, glucoheptanoate, gluconate, glutamate, glycerophosphate, hemisuccinate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hippurate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, iodide, isethionate, isobutyrate, lactate, lactobionate, malate, maleate, malonate, mandelate, metaphosphate, methanesulfonate, methylbenzoate, monohydrogenphosphate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oxalate, oleate, palmoate, pectinate, persulfate, phenylacetate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, phosphonate, phthalate, but this does not represent a restriction.

Furthermore, the base salts of the compounds according to the invention include aluminium, ammonium, calcium, copper, iron(III), iron(II), lithium, magnesium, manganese(III), manganese(II), potassium, sodium and zinc salts, but this is not intended to represent a restriction. Of the above-mentioned salts, preference is given to ammonium; the alkali metal salts sodium and potassium, and the alkaline earth metal salts calcium and magnesium. Salts of the compounds of the formula I which are derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, substituted amines, also including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines, and basic ion exchanger resins, for example arginine, betaine, caffeine, chloroprocaine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine (benzathine), dicyclohexylamine, diethanolamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylamino-ethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lidocaine, lysine, meglumine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethanolamine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine and tris-(hydroxymethyl)methylamine (tromethamine), but this is not intended to represent a restriction.

Compounds of the present invention which contain basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quaternised using agents such as (C₁-C₄)alkyl halides, for example methyl, ethyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl chloride, bromide and iodide; di(C₁-C₄)alkyl sulfates, for example dimethyl, diethyl and diamyl sulfate; (C₁₀-C₁₈)alkyl halides, for example decyl, dodecyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chloride, bromide and iodide; and aryl(C₁-C₄)alkyl halides, for example benzyl chloride and phenethyl bromide. Both water- and oil-soluble compounds according to the invention can be prepared using such salts.

The above-mentioned pharmaceutical salts which are preferred include acetate, trifluoroacetate, besylate, citrate, fumarate, gluconate, hemisuccinate, hippurate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, isethionate, mandelate, meglumine, nitrate, oleate, phosphonate, pivalate, sodium phosphate, stearate, sulfate, sulfosalicylate, tartrate, thiomalate, tosylate and tromethamine, but this is not intended to represent a restriction.

Particular preference is given to hydrochloride, dihydrochloride, hydrobromide, maleate, mesylate, phosphate, sulfate and succinate.

The acid-addition salts of basic compounds of the formula I are prepared by bringing the free base form into contact with a sufficient amount of the desired acid, causing the formation of the salt in a conventional manner. The free base can be regenerated by bringing the salt form into contact with a base and isolating the free base in a conventional manner. The free base forms differ in a certain respect from the corresponding salt forms thereof with respect to certain physical properties, such as solubility in polar solvents; for the purposes of the invention, however, the salts otherwise correspond to the respective free base forms thereof.

As mentioned, the pharmaceutically acceptable base-addition salts of the compounds of the formula I are formed with metals or amines, such as alkali metals and alkaline earth metals or organic amines. Preferred metals are sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Preferred organic amines are N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-methyl-D-glucamine and procaine.

The base-addition salts of acidic compounds according to the invention are prepared by bringing the free acid form into contact with a sufficient amount of the desired base, causing the formation of the salt in a conventional manner. The free acid can be regenerated by bringing the salt form into contact with an acid and isolating the free acid in a conventional manner. The free acid forms differ in a certain respect from the corresponding salt forms thereof with respect to certain physical properties, such as solubility in polar solvents; for the purposes of the invention, however, the salts otherwise correspond to the respective free acid forms thereof.

If a compound according to the invention contains more than one group which is capable of forming pharmaceutically acceptable salts of this type, the invention also encompasses multiple salts. Typical multiple salt forms include, for example, bitartrate, diacetate, difumarate, dimeglumine, diphosphate, disodium and trihydrochloride, but this is not intended to represent a restriction.

With regard to that stated above, it can be seen that the expression “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” in the present connection is taken to mean an active ingredient which comprises a compound of the formula I in the form of one of its salts, in particular if this salt form imparts improved pharmacokinetic properties on the active ingredient compared with the free form of the active ingredient or any other salt form of the active ingredient used earlier. The pharmaceutically acceptable salt form of the active ingredient can also provide this active ingredient for the first time with a desired pharmacokinetic property which it did not have earlier and can even have a positive influence on the pharmacodynamics of this active ingredient with respect to its therapeutic efficacy in the body.

The invention furthermore relates to medicaments comprising at least one compound of the formula I and/or pharmaceutically usable salts and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, and optionally excipients and/or adjuvants.

Pharmaceutical formulations can be administered in the form of dosage units which comprise a predetermined amount of active ingredient per dosage unit. Such a unit can comprise, for example, 0.5 mg to 1 g, preferably 1 mg to 700 mg, particularly preferably 5 mg to 100 mg, of a compound according to the invention, depending on the condition treated, the method of administration and the age, weight and condition of the patient, or pharmaceutical formulations can be administered in the form of dosage units which comprise a predetermined amount of active ingredient per dosage unit. Preferred dosage unit formulations are those which comprise a daily dose or part-dose, as indicated above, or a corresponding fraction thereof of an active ingredient. Furthermore, pharmaceutical formulations of this type can be prepared using a process which is generally known in the pharmaceutical art.

Pharmaceutical formulations can be adapted for administration via any desired suitable method, for example by oral (including buccal or sublingual), rectal, nasal, topical (including buccal, sublingual or transdermal), vaginal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or intradermal) methods. Such formulations can be prepared using all processes known in the pharmaceutical art by, for example, combining the active ingredient with the excipient(s) or adjuvant(s).

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for oral administration can be administered as separate units, such as, for example, capsules or tablets; powders or granules; solutions or suspensions in aqueous or non-aqueous liquids; edible foams or foam foods; or oil-in-water liquid emulsions or water-in-oil liquid emulsions.

Thus, for example, in the case of oral administration in the form of a tablet or capsule, the active-ingredient component can be combined with an oral, non-toxic and pharmaceutically acceptable inert excipient, such as, for example, ethanol, glycerol, water and the like. Powders are prepared by comminuting the compound to a suitable fine size and mixing it with a pharmaceutical excipient comminuted in a similar manner, such as, for example, an edible carbohydrate, such as, for example, starch or mannitol. A flavour, preservative, dispersant and dye may likewise be present.

Capsules are produced by preparing a powder mixture as described above and filling shaped gelatine shells therewith. Glidants and lubricants, such as, for example, highly disperse silicic acid, talc, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate or polyethylene glycol in solid form, can be added to the powder mixture before the filling operation. A disintegrant or solubiliser, such as, for example, agar-agar, calcium carbonate or sodium carbonate, may likewise be added in order to improve the availability of the medicament after the capsule has been taken.

In addition, if desired or necessary, suitable binders, lubricants and disintegrants as well as dyes can likewise be incorporated into the mixture. Suitable binders include starch, gelatine, natural sugars, such as, for example, glucose or beta-lactose, sweeteners made from maize, natural and synthetic rubber, such as, for example, acacia, tragacanth or sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, waxes, and the like. The lubricants used in these dosage forms include sodium oleate, sodium stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride and the like. The disintegrants include, without being restricted thereto, starch, methylcellulose, agar, bentonite, xanthan gum and the like. The tablets are formulated by, for example, preparing a powder mixture, granulating or dry-pressing the mixture, adding a lubricant and a disintegrant and pressing the entire mixture to give tablets. A powder mixture is prepared by mixing the compound comminuted in a suitable manner with a diluent or a base, as described above, and optionally with a binder, such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, an alginate, gelatine or polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, a dissolution retardant, such as, for example, paraffin, an absorption accelerator, such as, for example, a quaternary salt, and/or an absorbant, such as, for example, bentonite, kaolin or dicalcium phosphate. The powder mixture can be granulated by wetting it with a binder, such as, for example, syrup, starch paste, acadia mucilage or solutions of cellulose or polymer materials and pressing it through a sieve. As an alternative to granulation, the powder mixture can be run through a tableting machine, giving lumps of non-uniform shape, which are broken up to form granules. The granules can be lubricated by addition of stearic acid, a stearate salt, talc or mineral oil in order to prevent sticking to the tablet casting moulds. The lubricated mixture is then pressed to give tablets. The compounds according to the invention can also be combined with a free-flowing inert excipient and then pressed directly to give tablets without carrying out the granulation or dry-pressing steps. A transparent or opaque protective layer consisting of a shellac sealing layer, a layer of sugar or polymer material and a gloss layer of wax may be present. Dyes can be added to these coatings in order to be able to differentiate between different dosage units.

Oral liquids, such as, for example, solution, syrups and elixirs, can be prepared in the form of dosage units so that a given quantity comprises a pre-specified amount of the compound. Syrups can be prepared by dissolving the compound in an aqueous solution with a suitable flavour, while elixirs are prepared using a non-toxic alcoholic vehicle. Suspensions can be formulated by dispersion of the compound in a non-toxic vehicle. Solubilisers and emulsifiers, such as, for example, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols and polyoxyethylene sorbitol ethers, preservatives, flavour additives, such as, for example, peppermint oil or natural sweeteners or saccharin, or other artificial sweeteners and the like, can likewise be added.

The dosage unit formulations for oral administration can, if desired, be encapsulated in microcapsules. The formulation can also be prepared in such a way that the release is extended or retarded, such as, for example, by coating or embedding of particulate material in polymers, wax and the like.

The compounds of the formula I and salts thereof can also be administered in the form of liposome delivery systems, such as, for example, small unilamellar vesicles, large unilamellar vesicles and multilamellar vesicles. Liposomes can be formed from various phospholipids, such as, for example, cholesterol, stearylamine or phosphatidylcholines.

The compounds of the formula I and the salts thereof can also be delivered using monoclonal antibodies as individual carriers to which the compound molecules are coupled. The compounds can also be coupled to soluble polymers as targeted medicament carriers. Such polymers may encompass polyvinylpyrrolidone, pyran copolymer, polyhydroxypropylmethacrylamidophenol, polyhydroxyethylaspartamidophenol or polyethylene oxide polylysine, substituted by palmitoyl radicals. The compounds may furthermore be coupled to a class of biodegradable polymers which are suitable for achieving controlled release of a medicament, for example polylactic acid, poly-epsilon-caprolactone, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydroxypyrans, polycyanoacrylates and crosslinked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for transdermal administration can be administered as independent plasters for extended, close contact with the epidermis of the recipient. Thus, for example, the active ingredient can be delivered from the plaster by iontophoresis, as described in general terms in Pharmaceutical Research, 3(6), 318 (1986).

Pharmaceutical compounds adapted for topical administration can be formulated as ointments, creams, suspensions, lotions, powders, solutions, pastes, gels, sprays, aerosols or oils.

For the treatment of the eye or other external tissue, for example mouth and skin, the formulations are preferably applied as topical ointment or cream. In the case of formulation to give an ointment, the active ingredient can be employed either with a paraffinic or a water-miscible cream base. Alternatively, the active ingredient can be formulated to give a cream with an oil-in-water cream base or a water-in-oil base.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for topical application to the eye include eye drops, in which the active ingredient is dissolved or suspended in a suitable carrier, in particular an aqueous solvent.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for topical application in the mouth encompass lozenges, pastilles and mouthwashes.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for rectal administration can be administered in the form of suppositories or enemas.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for nasal administration in which the carrier substance is a solid comprise a coarse powder having a particle size, for example, in the range 20-500 microns, which is administered in the manner in which snuff is taken, i.e. by rapid inhalation via the nasal passages from a container containing the powder held close to the nose. Suitable formulations for administration as nasal spray or nose drops with a liquid as carrier substance encompass active-ingredient solutions in water or oil.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for administration by inhalation encompass finely particulate dusts or mists, which can be generated by various types of pressurised dispensers with aerosols, nebulisers or insufflators.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for vaginal administration can be administered as pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams or spray formulations.

Pharmaceutical formulations adapted for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions comprising antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostatics and solutes, by means of which the formulation is rendered isotonic with the blood of the recipient to be treated; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions, which may comprise suspension media and thickeners. The formulations can be administered in single-dose or multidose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and stored in freeze-dried (lyophilised) state, so that only the addition of the sterile carrier liquid, for example water for injection purposes, immediately before use is necessary. Injection solutions and suspensions pre-pared in accordance with the recipe can be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets.

It goes without saying that, in addition to the above particularly mentioned constituents, the formulations may also comprise other agents usual in the art with respect to the particular type of formulation; thus, for example, formulations which are suitable for oral administration may comprise flavours.

A therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula I depends on a number of factors, including, for example, the age and weight of the animal, the precise condition that requires treatment, and its severity, the nature of the formulation and the method of administration, and is ultimately determined by the treating doctor or vet. However, an effective amount of a compound according to the invention for the treatment of neoplastic growth, for example colon or breast carcinoma, is generally in the range from 0.1 to 100 mg/kg of body weight of the recipient (mammal) per day and particularly typically in the range from 1 to 10 mg/kg of body weight per day. Thus, the actual amount per day for an adult mammal weighing 70 kg is usually between 70 and 700 mg, where this amount can be administered as a single dose per day or usually in a series of part-doses (such as, for example, two, three, four, five or six) per day, so that the total daily dose is the same. An effective amount of a salt or solvate or of a physiologically functional derivative thereof can be determined as the fraction of the effective amount of the compound according to the invention per se. It can be assumed that similar doses are suitable for the treatment of other conditions mentioned above.

The invention furthermore relates to medicaments comprising at least one compound of the formula I and/or pharmaceutically usable salts and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, and at least one further medicament active ingredient.

The invention also relates to a set (kit) consisting of separate packs of

-   (a) an effective amount of a compound of the formula I and/or     pharmaceutically usable salts and stereoisomers thereof, including     mixtures thereof in all ratios,     -   and -   (b) an effective amount of a further medicament active ingredient.

The set comprises suitable containers, such as boxes, individual bottles, bags or ampoules. The set may, for example, comprise separate ampoules, each containing an effective amount of a compound of the formula I and/or pharmaceutically usable salts and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios,

and an effective amount of a further medicament active ingredient in dissolved or lyophilised form.

Use

The present compounds are suitable as pharmaceutical active ingredients for mammals, especially for humans, in the treatment of tyrosine kinase-induced diseases. These diseases include the proliferation of tumour cells, pathological neovascularisation (or angiogenesis) which promotes the growth of solid tumours, ocular neovascularisation (diabetic retinopathy, age-induced macular degeneration and the like) and inflammation (psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and the like).

The present invention encompasses the use of the compounds of the formula I and/or physiologically acceptable salts thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of cancer. Preferred carcinomas for the treatment originate from the group cerebral carcinoma, urogenital tract carcinoma, carcinoma of the lymphatic system, stomach carcinoma, laryngeal carcinoma and lung carcinoma. A further group of preferred forms of cancer are monocytic leukaemia, lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinomas, pancreatic cancer, glioblastomas and breast carcinoma.

Also encompassed is the use of the compounds according to Claim 1 according to the invention and/or physiologically acceptable salts thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a disease in which angiogenesis is implicated.

Such a disease in which angiogenesis is implicated is an ocular disease, such as retinal vascularisation, diabetic retinopathy, age-induced macular degeneration and the like.

The use of compounds of the formula I and/or physiologically acceptable salts and solvates thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases also falls within the scope of the present invention. Examples of such inflammatory diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, delayed hyper-sensitivity reaction and the like.

Also encompassed is the use of the compounds of the formula I and/or physiologically acceptable salts thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a tyrosine kinase-induced disease or a tyrosine kinase-induced condition in a mammal, in which to this method a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to the invention is administered to a sick mammal in need of such treatment. The therapeutic amount varies according to the specific disease and can be determined by the person skilled in the art without undue effort.

The present invention also encompasses the use compounds of the formula I and/or physiologically acceptable salts and solvates thereof for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of retinal vascularisation.

Methods for the treatment or prevention of ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-induced macular degeneration, are likewise part of the invention. The use for the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, contact dermatitis and delayed hypersensitivity reaction, as well as the treatment or prevention of bone pathologies from the group osteosarcoma, osteoarthritis and rickets, likewise falls within the scope of the present invention.

The expression “tyrosine kinase-induced diseases or conditions” refers to pathological conditions that depend on the activity of one or more tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine kinases either directly or indirectly participate in the signal transduction pathways of a variety of cellular activities, including proliferation, adhesion and migration and differentiation. Diseases associated with tyrosine kinase activity include proliferation of tumour cells, pathological neovascularisation that promotes the growth of solid tumours, ocular neovascularisation (diabetic retinopathy, age-induced macular degeneration and the like) and inflammation (psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and the like).

The compounds of the formula I can be administered to patients for the treatment of cancer, in particular fast-growing tumours.

The invention thus relates to the use of compounds of the formula I, and pharmaceutically usable salts and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of kinase signal transduction plays a role.

Preference is given here to Met kinase.

Preference is given to the use of compounds of the formula I, and pharmaceutically usable salts and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios,

for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases which are influenced by inhibition of tyrosine kinases by the compounds according to Claim 1.

Particular preference is given to the use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases which are influenced by inhibition of Met kinase by the compounds according to Claim 1.

Especial preference is given to the use for the treatment of a disease where the disease is a solid tumour.

The solid tumour is preferably selected from the group of tumours of the lung, squamous epithelium, the bladder, the stomach, the kidneys, of head and neck, the oesophagus, the cervix, the thyroid, the intestine, the liver, the brain, the prostate, the urogenital tract, the lymphatic system, the stomach and/or the larynx.

The solid tumour is furthermore preferably selected from the group lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinomas, pancreatic cancer, glioblastomas, colon carcinoma and breast carcinoma.

Preference is furthermore given to the use for the treatment of a tumour of the blood and immune system, preferably for the treatment of a tumour selected from the group of acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphatic leukaemia and/or chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

The disclosed compounds of the formula I can be administered in combination with other known therapeutic agents, including anticancer agents. As used here, the term “anticancer agent” relates to any agent which is administered to a patient with cancer for the purposes of treating the cancer.

The anti-cancer treatment defined herein may be applied as a sole therapy or may involve, in addition to the compound of the invention, conventional surgery or radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Such chemotherapy may include one or more of the following categories of anti-tumour agents:

-   (i) antiproliferative/antineoplastic/DNA-damaging agents and     combinations thereof, as used in medical oncology, such as     alkylating agents (for example cis-platin, carboplatin,     cyclophosphamide, nitrogen mustard, melphalan, chloroambucil,     busulphan and nitrosoureas); antimetabolites (for example     antifolates such as fluoropyrimidines like 5-fluorouracil and     tegafur, raltitrexed, methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside,     hydroxyurea and gemcitabine); antitumour antibiotics (for example     anthracyclines, like adriamycin, bleomycin, doxorubicin, daunomycin,     epirubicin, idarubicin, mitomycin-C, dactinomycin and mithramycin);     antimitotic agents (for example vinca alkaloids, like vincristine,     vinblastine, vindesine and vinorelbine, and taxoids, like taxol and     taxotere); topoisomerase inhibitors (for example     epipodophyllotoxins, like etoposide and teniposide, amsacrine,     topotecan, irinotecan and camptothecin) and cell-differentiating     agents (for example all-trans-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid     and fenretinide); -   (ii) cytostatic agents, such as antioestrogens (for example     tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, droloxifene and iodoxyfene),     oestrogen receptor downregulators (for example fulvestrant),     antiandrogens (for example bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide and     cyproterone acetate), LHRH antagonists or LHRH agonists (for example     goserelin, leuprorelin and buserelin), progesterones (for example     megestrol acetate), aromatase inhibitors (for example as     anastrozole, letrozole, vorazole and exemestane) and inhibitors of     5α-reductase, such as finasteride; -   (iii) agents which inhibit cancer cell invasion (for example     metallo-proteinase inhibitors, like marimastat, and inhibitors of     urokinase plasminogen activator receptor function); -   (iv) inhibitors of growth factor function, for example such     inhibitors include growth factor antibodies, growth factor receptor     antibodies (for example the anti-erbb2 antibody trastuzumab     [Herceptin™] and the anti-erbb1 antibody cetuximab [C225]), farnesyl     transferase inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and     serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, for example inhibitors of the     epidermal growth factor family (for example EGFR family tyrosine     kinase inhibitors, such as     N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-methoxy-6-(3-morpholinopropoxy)     quinazolin-4-amine (gefitinib, AZD1839),     N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)quinazolin-4-amine     (erlotinib, OSI-774) and     6-acrylamido-N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-7-(3-morpholino-propoxy)quinazolin-4-amine     (CI 1033)), for example inhibitors of the platelet-derived growth     factor family and for example inhibitors of the hepatocyte growth     factor family; -   (v) antiangiogenic agents, such as those which inhibit the effects     of vascular endothelial growth factor, (for example the     anti-vascular endothelial cell growth factor antibody bevacizumab     [Avastin™], compounds such as those disclosed in published     international patent applications WO 97/22596, WO 97/30035, WO     97/32856 and WO 98/13354) and compounds that work by other     mechanisms (for example linomide, inhibitors of integrin αvβ3     function and angiostatin); -   (vi) vessel-damaging agents, such as combretastatin A4 and compounds     disclosed in international patent applications WO 99/02166, WO     00/40529, WO 00/41669, WO 01/92224, WO 02/04434 and WO 02/08213; -   (vii) antisense therapies, for example those which are directed to     the targets listed above, such as ISIS 2503, an anti-Ras antisense; -   (viii) gene therapy approaches, including, for example, approaches     for replacement of aberrant genes, such as aberrant p53 or aberrant     BRCA1 or BRCA2, GDEPT (gene-directed enzyme pro-drug therapy)     approaches, such as those using cytosine deaminase, thymidine kinase     or a bacterial nitroreductase enzyme, and approaches for increasing     patient tolerance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, such as     multi-drug resistance gene therapy; and -   (ix) immunotherapy approaches, including, for example, ex-vivo and     in-vivo approaches for increasing the immunogenicity of patient     tumour cells, such as transfection with cytokines, such as     interleukin 2, interleukin 4 or granulocyte-macrophage colony     stimulating factor, approaches for decreasing T-cell anergy,     approaches using transfected immune cells, such as     cytokine-transfected dendritic cells, approaches using     cytokine-transfected tumour cell lines, and approaches using     anti-idiotypic antibodies.

The medicaments from Table 1 below are preferably, but not exclusively, combined with the compounds of the formula I.

TABLE 1 Alkylating Cyclophosphamide Lomustine agents Busulfan Procarbazine Ifosfamide Altretamine Melphalan Estramustine phosphate Hexamethylmelamine Mechloroethamine Thiotepa Streptozocin chloroambucil Temozolomide Dacarbazine Semustine Carmustine Platinum Cisplatin Carboplatin agents Oxaliplatin ZD-0473 (AnorMED) Spiroplatin Lobaplatin (Aetema) Carboxyphthalatoplatinum Satraplatin (Johnson Tetraplatin Matthey) Ormiplatin BBR-3464 (Hoffrnann- Iproplatin La Roche) SM-11355 (Sumitomo) AP-5280 (Access) Anti- Azacytidine Tomudex metabolites Gemcitabine Trimetrexate Capecitabine Deoxycoformycin 5-fluorouracil Fludarabine Floxuridine Pentostatin 2-chlorodesoxyadenosine Raltitrexed 6-Mercaptopurine Hydroxyurea 6-Thioguanine Decitabine (SuperGen) Cytarabine Clofarabine (Bioenvision) 2-fluorodesoxycytidine Irofulven (MGI Pharrna) Methotrexate DMDC (Hoffmann- Idatrexate La Roche) Ethynylcytidine (Taiho) Topo- Amsacrine Rubitecan (SuperGen) isomerase Epirubicin Exatecan mesylate (Daiichi) inhibitors Etoposide Quinamed (ChemGenex) Teniposide or Gimatecan (Sigma-Tau) mitoxantrone Diflomotecan (Beaufour- Irinotecan (CPT-11) Ipsen) 7-ethyl-10- TAS-103 (Taiho) hydroxycamptothecin Elsamitrucin (Spectrum) Topotecan J-107088 (Merck & Co) Dexrazoxanet BNP-1350 (BioNumerik) (TopoTarget) CKD-602 Pixantrone (Novuspharrna) (Chong Kun Dang) Rebeccamycin analogue KW-2170 (Kyowa Hakko) (Exelixis) BBR-3576 (Novuspharrna) Antitumour Dactinomycin Amonafide antibiotics (Actinomycin D) Azonafide Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) Anthrapyrazole Deoxyrubicin Oxantrazole Valrubicin Losoxantrone Daunorubicin Bleomycin sulfate (Daunomycin) (Blenoxan) Epirubicin Bleomycinic acid Therarubicin Bleomycin A Idarubicin Bleomycin B Rubidazon Mitomycin C Plicamycinp MEN-10755 (Menarini) Porfiromycin GPX-100 (Gem Cyano- Pharmaceuticals) morpholinodoxorubicin Mitoxantron (Novantron) Antimitotic Paclitaxel SB 408075 agents Docetaxel (GlaxoSmithKline) Colchicine E7010 (Abbott) Vinblastine PG-TXL (Cell Therapeutics) Vincristine IDN 5109 (Bayer) Vinorelbine A 105972 (Abbott) Vindesine A 204197 (Abbott) Dolastatin 10 (NCI) LU 223651 (BASF) Rhizoxin (Fujisawa) D 24851 (ASTA Medica) Mivobulin ER-86526 (Eisai) (Warner-Lambert) Combretastatin A4 (BMS) Cemadotin (BASF) Isohomohalichondrin-B RPR 109881A (Aventis) (PharmaMar) TXD 258 (Aventis) ZD 6126 (AstraZeneca) Epothilone B (Novartis) PEG-Paclitaxel (Enzon) T 900607 (Tularik) AZ10992 (Asahi) T 138067 (Tularik) !DN-5109 (Indena) Cryptophycin 52 (Eli Lilly) AVLB (Prescient Vinflunine (Fabre) NeuroPharma) Auristatin PE (Teikoku Azaepothilon B (BMS) Hormone) BNP- 7787 (BioNumerik) BMS 247550 (BMS) CA-4-prodrug (OXiGENE) BMS 184476 (BMS) Dolastatin-10 (NrH) BMS 188797 (BMS) CA-4 (OXiGENE) Taxoprexin (Protarga) Aromatase Aminoglutethimide Exemestan inhibitors Letrozole Atamestan (BioMedicines) Anastrazole YM-511 (Yamanouchi) Formestan Thymidylate Pemetrexed (Eli Lilly) Nolatrexed (Eximias) synthase ZD-9331 (BTG) CoFactor ™ (BioKeys) inhibitors DNA Trabectedin (PharmaMar) Mafosfamide (Baxter antagonists Glufosfamide (Baxter International) International) Apaziquone (Spectrum Albumin + 32P (Isotope Pharmaceuticals) Solutions) O6-benzylguanine Thymectacin (NewBiotics) (Paligent) Edotreotid (Novartis) Farnesyl Arglabin Tipifarnib (Johnson & transferase (NuOncology Labs) Johnson) inhibitors Ionafarnib Perillyl alcohol (DOR (Schering-Plough) BioPharma) BAY-43-9006 (Bayer) Pump CBT-1 (CBA Pharma) Zosuquidar trihydrochloride inhibitors Tariquidar (Xenova) (Eli Lilly) MS-209 (Schering AG) Biricodar dicitrate (Vertex) Histone acetyl Tacedinaline (Pfizer) Pivaloyloxymethyl butyrate transferase SAHA (Aton Pharma) (Titan) inhibitors MS-275 (Schering AG) Depsipeptide (Fujisawa) Metallo- Neovastat (Aeterna CMT -3 (CollaGenex) proteinase Laboratories) BMS-275291 (Celltech) inhibitors Marimastat Tezacitabine (Aventis) Ribo- (British Biotech) Didox (Molecules for nucleoside Gallium maltolate (Titan) Health) reductase Triapin (Vion) inhibitors TNF-alpha Virulizin Revimid (Celgene) agonists/ (Lorus Therapeutics) antagonists CDC-394 (Celgene) Endothelin-A Atrasentan (Abbot) YM-598 (Yamanouchi) receptor ZD-4054 (AstraZeneca) antagonists Retinoic acid Fenretinide (Johnson & Alitretinoin (Ligand) receptor Johnson) agonists LGD-1550 (Ligand) Immuno- Interferon Dexosome therapy (Anosys) modulators Oncophage (Antigenics) Pentrix (Australian Cancer GMK (Progenics) Technology) Adenocarcinoma vaccine JSF-154 (Tragen) (Biomira) Cancer vaccine (Intercell) CTP-37 (AVI BioPharma) Norelin (Biostar) JRX-2 (Immuno-Rx) BLP-25 (Biomira) PEP-005 (Peplin Biotech) MGV (Progenics) Synchrovax vaccines (CTL !3-Alethin (Dovetail) Immuno) CLL-Thera (Vasogen) Melanoma vaccine (CTL Immuno) p21-RAS vaccine (GemVax) Hormonal and Oestrogens Prednisone antihormonal Conjugated oestrogens Methylprednisolone agents Ethynyloestradiol Prednisolone chlorotrianisene Aminoglutethimide Idenestrol Leuprolide Hydroxyprogesterone Goserelin caproate Leuporelin Medroxyprogesterone Bicalutamide Testosterone Flutamide Testosterone propionate Octreotide Fluoxymesterone Nilutamide Methyltestosterone Mitotan Diethylstilbestrol P-04 (Novogen) Megestrol 2-Methoxyoestradiol Tamoxifen (EntreMed) Toremofin Arzoxifen (Eli Lilly) Dexamethasone Photodynamic Talaporfin (Light Sciences) Pd-Bacteriopheophorbid agents Theralux (Yeda) (Theratechnologies) Lutetium-Texaphyrin Motexafin-Gadolinium (Pharmacyclics) (Pharmacyclics) Hypericin Tyrosine Imatinib (Novartis) Kahalide F (PharmaMar) kinase Leflunomide(Sugen/Phar- CEP- 701 (Cephalon) inhibitors macia) CEP-751 (Cephalon) ZDI839 (AstraZeneca) MLN518 (Millenium) Erlotinib PKC412 (Novartis) (Oncogene Science) Phenoxodiol O Canertjnib (Pfizer) Trastuzumab (Genentech) Squalamine (Genaera) C225 (ImClone) SU5416 (Pharmacia) rhu-Mab (Genentech) SU6668 (Pharmacia) MDX-H210 (Medarex) ZD4190 (AstraZeneca) 2C4 (Genentech) ZD6474 (AstraZeneca) MDX-447 (Medarex) Vatalanib (Novartis) ABX-EGF (Abgenix) PKI166 (Novartis) IMC-1C11 (ImClone) GW2016 (GlaxoSmithKline) EKB-509 (Wyeth) EKB-569 (Wyeth) Various SR-27897 (CCK-A inhibi- BCX-1777 (PNP inhibitor, agents tor, Sanofi-Synthelabo) BioCryst) Tocladesine (cyclic AMP Ranpirnase (ribonuclease agonist, Ribapharm) stimulant, Alfacell) Alvocidib (CDK inhibitor, Galarubicin (RNA synthesis Aventis) inhibitor, Dong-A) CV-247 (COX-2 inhibitor, Tirapazamine (reducing Ivy Medical) agent, SRI International) P54 (COX-2 inhibitor, N-Acetylcysteine (reducing Phytopharm) agent, Zambon) CapCell ™ (CYP450 R-Flurbiprofen (NF-kappaB stimulant, Bavarian inhibitor, Encore) Nordic) 3CPA (NF-kappaB inhibitor, GCS-IOO (gal3 antagonist, Active Biotech) GlycoGenesys) Seocalcitol (vitamin D G17DT immunogen receptor agonist, Leo) (gastrin inhibitor, Aphton) 131-I-TM-601 (DNA Efaproxiral (oxygenator, antagonist, TransMolecular) Allos Therapeutics) Eflornithin (ODC inhibitor, PI-88 (heparanase ILEX Oncology) inhibitor, Progen) Minodronic acid (osteoclast Tesmilifen (histamine an- inhibitor, Yamanouchi) tagonist, YM BioSciences) Indisulam (p53 stimulant, Histamine (histamine H2 Eisai) receptor agonist, Maxim) Aplidin (PPT inhibitor, Tiazofurin (IMPDH PharmaMar) inhibitor, Ribapharm) Rituximab (CD20 antibody, Cilengitide (integrin Genentech) antagonist, Merck KGaA) Gemtuzumab (CD33 SR-31747 (IL-1 antagonist, Sanofi-Synthelabo) antibody, Wyeth Ayerst) CCI-779 (mTOR kinase PG2 (haematopoiesis inhibitor, Wyeth) promoter, Pharmagenesis) Exisulind (PDE-V Immunol ™ (triclosan inhibitor, Cell Pathways) mouthwash, Endo) CP-461 (PDE-V inhibitor, Triacetyluridine (uridine Cell Pathways) prodrug, Wellstat) AG-2037 (GART inhibitor, SN-4071 (sarcoma agent, Pfizer) Signature BioScience) WX-UK1 (plasminogen TransMID-107 ™ activator inhibitor, Wilex) (immunotoxin, KS PBI-1402 (PMN stimulant, Biomedix) ProMetic LifeSciences) PCK-3145 (apoptosis Bortezomib (proteasome promoter, Procyon) inhibitor, Millennium) Doranidazole (apoptosis SRL-172 (T-cell stimulant, promoter, Pola) SR Pharma) CHS-828 (cytotoxic agent, TLK-286 (glutathione-S Leo) transferase inhibitor, Telik) Trans-retinic acid PT-100 (growth factor (differentiator, NIH) agonist, Point MX6 (apoptosis promoter, Therapeutics) MAXIA) Midostaurin (PKC Apomine (apoptosis inhibitor, Novartis) promoter, ILEX Oncology) Bryostatin-1 (PKC Urocidin (apoptosis stimulant GPC Biotech) promoter, Bioniche) CDA-II (apoptosis Ro-31-7453 (apoptosis promoter, Everlife) promoter, La Roche) SDX-101 (apoptosis Brostallicin (apoptosis promoter, Salmedix) promoter, Pharmacia) Ceflatonin (apoptosis promoter, ChemGenex) Alkylating Cyclophosphamide Lomustine agents Busulfan Procarbazine Ifosfamide Altretamine Melphalan Estramustine phosphate Hexamethylmelamine Mechloroethamine Thiotepa Streptozocin chloroambucil Temozolomide Dacarbazine Semustine Carmustine Platinum Cisplatin Carboplatin agents Oxaliplatin ZD-0473 (AnorMED) Spiroplatin Lobaplatin (Aetema) Carboxyphthalatoplatinum Satraplatin (Johnson Tetraplatin Matthey) Ormiplatin BBR-3464 (Hoffrnann-La Iproplatin Roche) SM-11355 (Sumitomo) AP-5280 (Access) Anti- Azacytidine Tomudex metabolites Gemcitabine Trimetrexate Capecitabine Deoxycoformycin 5-fluorouracil Fludarabine Floxuridine Pentostatin 2-chlorodesoxyadenosine Raltitrexed 6-Mercaptopurine Hydroxyurea 6-Thioguanine Decitabine (SuperGen) Cytarabine Clofarabine (Bioenvision) 2-fluorodesoxycytidine Irofulven (MGI Pharrna) Methotrexate DMDC (Hoffmann- Idatrexate La Roche) Ethynylcytidine (Taiho) Topo- Amsacrine Rubitecan (SuperGen) isomerase Epirubicin Exatecan mesylate (Daiichi) inhibitors Etoposide Quinamed (ChemGenex) Teniposide or Gimatecan (Sigma- Tau) mitoxantrone Diflomotecan (Beaufour- Irinotecan (CPT-11) Ipsen) 7-ethyl-10- TAS-103 (Taiho) hydroxycamptothecin Elsamitrucin (Spectrum) Topotecan J-107088 (Merck & Co) Dexrazoxanet BNP-1350 (BioNumerik) (TopoTarget) CKD-602 Pixantrone (Novuspharrna) (Chong Kun Dang) Rebeccamycin analogue KW-2170 (Kyowa Hakko) (Exelixis) BBR-3576 (Novuspharrna) Antitumour Dactinomycin Amonafide antibiotics (Actinomycin D) Azonafide Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) Anthrapyrazole Deoxyrubicin Oxantrazole Valrubicin Losoxantrone Daunorubicin Bleomycin sulfate (Daunomycin) (Blenoxan) Epirubicin Bleomycinic acid Therarubicin Bleomycin A Idarubicin Bleomycin B Rubidazon Mitomycin C Plicamycinp MEN-10755 (Menarini) Porfiromycin GPX-100 (Gem Cyano- Pharmaceuticals) morpholinodoxorubicin Mitoxantron (Novantron) Antimitotic Paclitaxel SB 408075 agents Docetaxel (GlaxoSmithKline) Colchicine E7010 (Abbott) Vinblastine PG-TXL (Cell Therapeutics) Vincristine IDN 5109 (Bayer) Vinorelbine A 105972 (Abbott) Vindesine A 204197 (Abbott) Dolastatin 10 (NCI) LU 223651 (BASF) Rhizoxin (Fujisawa) D 24851 (ASTA Medica) Mivobulin ER-86526 (Eisai) (Warner-Lambert) Combretastatin A4 (BMS) Cemadotin (BASF) Isohomohalichondrin-B RPR 109881A (Aventis) (PharmaMar) TXD 258 (Aventis) ZD 6126 (AstraZeneca) Epothilone B (Novartis) PEG-Paclitaxel (Enzon) T 900607 (Tularik) AZ10992 (Asahi) T 138067 (Tularik) !DN-5109 (Indena) Cryptophycin 52 (Eli Lilly) AVLB (Prescient Vinflunine (Fabre) NeuroPharma) Auristatin PE (Teikoku Azaepothilon B (BMS) Hormone) BNP- 7787 (BioNumerik) BMS 247550 (BMS) CA-4-prodrug (OXiGENE) BMS 184476 (BMS) Dolastatin-10 (NrH) BMS 188797 (BMS) CA-4 (OXiGENE) Taxoprexin (Protarga) Aromatase Aminoglutethimide Exemestan inhibitors Letrozole Atamestan (BioMedicines) Anastrazole YM-511 (Yamanouchi) Formestan Thymidylate Pemetrexed (Eli Lilly) Nolatrexed (Eximias) synthase ZD-9331 (BTG) CoFactor ™ (BioKeys) inhibitors DNA Trabectedin (PharmaMar) Mafosfamide (Baxter antagonists Glufosfamide (Baxter International) International) Apaziquone (Spectrum Albumin + 32P (Isotope Pharmaceuticals) Solutions) O6-benzylguanine Thymectacin (NewBiotics) (Paligent) Edotreotid (Novartis) Farnesyl Arglabin Tipifarnib (Johnson & transferase (NuOncology Labs) Johnson) inhibitors Ionafarnib Perillyl alcohol (DOR (Schering-Plough) BioPharma) BAY-43-9006 (Bayer) Pump CBT-1 (CBA Pharma) Zosuquidar trihydrochloride inhibitors Tariquidar (Xenova) (Eli Lilly) MS-209 (Schering AG) Biricodar dicitrate (Vertex) Histone acetyl Tacedinaline (Pfizer) Pivaloyloxymethyl butyrate transferase SAHA (Aton Pharma) (Titan) inhibitors MS-275 (Schering AG) Depsipeptide (Fujisawa) Metallo- Neovastat (Aeterna CMT -3 (CollaGenex) proteinase Laboratories) BMS-275291 (Celltech) inhibitors Marimastat Tezacitabine (Aventis) Ribo- (British Biotech) Didox (Molecules for nucleoside Gallium maltolate (Titan) Health) reductase Triapin (Vion) inhibitors TNF-alpha Virulizin Revimid (Celgene) agonists/ (Lorus Therapeutics) antagonists CDC-394 (Celgene) Endothelin-A Atrasentan (Abbot) YM-598 (Yamanouchi) receptor ZD-4054 (AstraZeneca) antagonists Retinoic acid Fenretinide (Johnson & Alitretinoin (Ligand) receptor Johnson) agonists LGD-1550 (Ligand) Immuno- Interferon Dexosome therapy (Anosys) modulators Oncophage (Antigenics) Pentrix (Australian Cancer GMK (Progenics) Technology) Adenocarcinoma vaccine JSF-154 (Tragen) (Biomira) Cancer vaccine (Intercell) CTP-37 (AVI BioPharma) Norelin (Biostar) JRX-2 (Immuno-Rx) BLP-25 (Biomira) PEP-005 (Peplin Biotech) MGV (Progenics) Synchrovax vaccines (CTL !3-Alethin (Dovetail) Immuno) CLL-Thera (Vasogen) Melanoma vaccine (CTL Immuno) p21-RAS vaccine (GemVax) Hormonal and Oestrogens Prednisone antihormonal Conjugated oestrogens Methylprednisolone agents Ethynyloestradiol Prednisolone chlorotrianisene Aminoglutethimide Idenestrol Leuprolide Hydroxyprogesterone Goserelin caproate Leuporelin Medroxyprogesterone Bicalutamide Testosterone Flutamide Testosterone propionate Octreotide Fluoxymesterone Nilutamide Methyltestosterone Mitotan Diethylstilbestrol P-04 (Novogen) Megestrol 2-Methoxyoestradiol Tamoxifen (EntreMed) Toremofin Arzoxifen (Eli Lilly) Dexamethasone Photodynamic Talaporfin (Light Sciences) Pd-Bacteriopheophorbid agents Theralux (Yeda) (Theratechnologies) Lutetium-Texaphyrin Motexafin-Gadolinium (Pharmacyclics) (Pharmacyclics) Hypericin Tyrosine Imatinib (Novartis) Kahalide F (PharmaMar) kinase Leflunomide (Sugen/Phar- CEP- 701 (Cephalon) inhibitors macia) CEP-751 (Cephalon) ZDI839 (AstraZeneca) MLN518 (Millenium) Erlotinib PKC412 (Novartis) (Oncogene Science) Phenoxodiol O Canertjnib (Pfizer) Trastuzumab (Genentech) Squalamine (Genaera) C225 (ImClone) SU5416 (Pharmacia) rhu-Mab (Genentech) SU6668 (Pharmacia) MDX-H210 (Medarex) ZD4190 (AstraZeneca) 2C4 (Genentech) ZD6474 (AstraZeneca) MDX-447 (Medarex) Vatalanib (Novartis) ABX-EGF (Abgenix) PKI166 (Novartis) IMC-1C11 (ImClone) GW2016 (GlaxoSmithKline) EKB-509 (Wyeth) EKB-569 (Wyeth) Various SR-27897 (CCK-A BCX-1777 (PNP inhibitor, agents inhibitor, Sanofi- BioCryst) Synthelabo) Ranpirnase (ribonuclease Tocladesine (cyclic AMP stimulant, Alfacell) agonist, Ribapharm) Galarubicin (RNA synthesis Alvocidib (CDK inhibitor, inhibitor, Dong-A) Aventis) Tirapazamine (reducing CV-247 (COX-2 inhibitor, agent, SRI International) Ivy Medical) N-Acetylcysteine (reducing P54 (COX-2 inhibitor, agent, Zambon) Phytopharm) R-Flurbiprofen (NF-kappaB CapCell ™ (CYP450 inhibitor, Encore) stimulant, Bavarian 3CPA (NF-kappaB inhibitor, Nordic) Active Biotech) GCS-IOO (gal3 antagonist, Seocalcitol (vitamin D GlycoGenesys) receptor agonist, Leo) G17DT immunogen 131-I-TM-601 (DNA (gastrin inhibitor, Aphton) antagonist, TransMolecular) Efaproxiral (oxygenator, Eflornithin (ODC inhibitor, Allos Therapeutics) ILEX Oncology) PI-88 (heparanase Minodronic acid (osteoclast inhibitor, Progen) inhibitor, Yamanouchi) Tesmilifen (histamine an- Indisulam (p53 stimulant, tagonist, YM BioSciences) Eisai) Histamine (histamine H2 Aplidin (PPT inhibitor, receptor agonist, Maxim) PharmaMar) Tiazofurin (IMPDH Rituximab (CD20 antibody, inhibitor, Ribapharm) Genentech) Cilengitide (integrin Gemtuzumab (CD33 antagonist, Merck KGaA) antibody, Wyeth Ayerst) SR-31747 (IL-1 antagonist, PG2 (haematopoiesis Sanofi-Synthelabo) promoter, Pharmagenesis) CCI-779 (mTOR kinase Immunol ™ (triclosan inhibitor, Wyeth) mouthwash, Endo) Exisulind (PDE-V Triacetyluridine (uridine inhibitor, Cell Pathways) prodrug, Wellstat) CP-461 (PDE-V inhibitor, SN-4071 (sarcoma agent, Cell Pathways) Signature BioScience) AG-2037 (GART inhibitor, TransMID-107 ™ Pfizer) (immunotoxin, KS WX-UK1 (plasminogen Biomedix) activator inhibitor, Wilex) PCK-3145 (apoptosis PBI-1402 (PMN stimulant, promoter, Procyon) ProMetic LifeSciences) Doranidazole (apoptosis Bortezomib (proteasome promoter, Pola) inhibitor, Millennium) CHS-828 (cytotoxic agent, SRL-172 (T-cell stimulant, Leo) SR Pharma) Trans-retinic acid TLK-286 (glutathione-S (differentiator, NIH) transferase inhibitor, Telik) MX6 (apoptosis promoter, PT-100 (growth factor MAXIA) agonist, Point Apomine (apoptosis Therapeutics) promoter, ILEX Oncology) Midostaurin (PKC Urocidin (apoptosis inhibitor, Novartis) promoter, Bioniche) Bryostatin-1 (PKC Ro-31-7453 (apoptosis stimulant, GPC Biotech) promoter, La Roche) CDA-II (apoptosis Brostallicin (apoptosis promoter, Everlife) promoter, Pharmacia) SDX-101 (apoptosis promoter, Salmedix) Ceflatonin (apoptosis promoter, ChemGenex)

A combined treatment of this type can be achieved with the aid of simultaneous, consecutive or separate dispensing of the individual components of the treatment. Combination products of this type employ the compounds according to the invention.

ASSAYS

The compounds of the formula I described in the examples were tested by the assays described below and were found to have kinase inhibitory activity. Other assays are known from the literature and could readily be performed by the person skilled in the art (see, for example, Dhanabal et al., Cancer Res. 59:189-197; Xin et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:9116-9121; Sheu et al., Anticancer Res. 18:4435-4441; Ausprunk et al., Dev. Biol. 38:237-248; Gimbrone et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 52:413-427; Nicosia et al., In Vitro 18:538-549).

Measurement of Met Kinase Activity

According to the manufacturer's data (Met, active, Upstate, catalogue No. 14-526), Met kinase is expressed for the purposes of protein production in insect cells (Sf21; S. frugiperda) and subsequent affinity-chromatographic purification as “N-terminal 6His-tagged” recombinant human protein in a baculovirus expression vector.

The kinase activity can be measured using various available measurement systems. In the scintillation proximity method (Sorg et al., J. of Biomolecular Screening, 2002, 7, 11-19), the flashplate method or the filter binding test, the radioactive phosphorylation of a protein or peptide as substrate is measured using radioactively labelled ATP (³²P-ATP, ³³P-ATP). In the case of the presence of an inhibitory compound, a reduced radioactive signal, or none at all, can be detected. Furthermore, homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (HTR-FRET) and fluorescence polarisation (FP) technologies can be used as assay methods (Sills et al., J. of Biomolecular Screening, 2002, 191-214).

Other non-radioactive ELISA assay methods use specific phospho antibodies (phospho ABs). The phospho antibody only binds the phosphorylated substrate. This binding can be detected by chemiluminescence using a second peroxidase-conjugated antibody (Ross et al., 2002, Biochem. J.).

Flashplate Method (Met Kinase)

The test plates used are 96-well Flashplate® microtitre plates from Perkin Elmer (Cat. No. SMP200). The components of the kinase reaction described below are pipetted into the assay plate. The Met kinase and the substrate poly Ala-Glu-Lys-Tyr, (pAGLT, 6:2:5:1), are incubated for 3 hrs at room temperature with radioactively labelled ³³P-ATP in the presence and absence of test substances in a total volume of 100 μl. The reaction is terminated using 150 μl of a 60 mM EDTA solution. After incubation for a further 30 min at room temperature, the supernatants are filtered off with suction, and the wells are washed three times with 200 μl of 0.9% NaCl solution each time. The measurement of the bound radioactivity is carried out by means of a scintillation measuring instrument (Topcount NXT, Perkin-Elmer).

The full value used is the inhibitor-free kinase reaction. This should be approximately in the range 6000-9000 cpm. The pharmacological zero value used is staurosporin in a final concentration of 0.1 mM. The inhibitory values (IC50) are determined using the RS1_MTS program.

Kinase reaction conditions per well:

-   30 μl of assay buffer -   10 μl of substance to be tested in assay buffer with 10% of DMSO -   10 μl of ATP (final concentration 1 μM cold, 0.35 μCi of ³³P-ATP) -   50 μl of Met kinase/substrate mixture in assay buffer;     -   (10 ng of enzyme/well, 50 ng of pAGLT/well)     -   Solutions used:     -   Assay buffer:     -   50 mM HEPES     -   3 mM magnesium chloride     -   3 μM sodium orthovanadate     -   3 mM manganese(II) chloride     -   1 mM dithiothreitol (DTT)     -   pH=7.5 (to be set using sodium hydroxide)     -   Stop solution:     -   60 mM Titriplex III (EDTA)     -   ³³P-ATP: Perkin-Elmer;     -   Met kinase: Upstate, Cat. No. 14-526, Stock 1 μg/10 μl; spec.         activity 954 U/mg;     -   Poly-Ala-Glu-Lys-Tyr, 6:2:5:1: Sigma Cat. No. P1152         In-Vivo Tests

Experimental procedure: Female Balb/C mice (breeder: Charles River Wiga) were 5 weeks old on arrival. They were acclimatised to our keeping conditions for 7 days. Each mouse was subsequently injected subcutaneously in the pelvic area with 4 million TPR-Met/NIH3T3 cells in 100 μl of PBS (without Ca++ and Mg++). After 5 days, the animals were randomised into 3 groups, so that each group of 9 mice had an average tumour volume of 110 μl (range: 55-165). 100 μl of vehicle (0.25% methylcellulose/100 mM acetate buffer, pH 5.5) were administered daily to the control group, and 200 mg/kg of “A56” or “A91” dissolved in the vehicle (volume likewise 100 μl/animal) were administered daily to the treatment groups, in each case by gastric tube. After 9 days, the controls had an average volume of 1530 μl and the experiment was terminated.

Measurement of the tumour volume: The length (L) and breadth (B) were measured using a Vernier calliper, and the tumour volume was calculated from the formula L×B×B/2.

Keeping conditions: 4 or 5 animals per cage, feeding with commercial mouse food (Sniff).

Above and below, all temperatures are indicated in ° C. In the following examples, “conventional work-up” means: water is added if necessary, the pH is adjusted, if necessary, to values between 2 and 10, depending on the constitution of the end product, the mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate or dichloromethane, the phases are separated, the organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated, and the residue is purified by chromatography on silica gel and/or by crystallisation. Rf values on silica gel; eluent: ethyl acetate/methanol 9:1.

Mass spectrometry (MS):

-   -   EI (electron impact ionisation) M⁺     -   FAB (fast atom bombardment) (M+H)⁺     -   ESI (electrospray ionisation) (M+H)⁺

APCI-MS (atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry) (M+H)⁺.

m.p.=melting point [° C.]

HPLC Methods:

Method A: Gradient: 4.5 min/flow: 3 ml/min 99:01-0:100

-   -   Water+0.1% (vol.) of TFA: acetonitrile+0.1% (vol.) of TFA     -   0.0 to 0.5 min: 99:01     -   0.5 to 3.5 min: 99:01--->0:100     -   3.5 to 4.5 min: 0:100     -   Column: Chromolith SpeedROD RP18e 50-4.6     -   Wavelength: 220 nm

Method B: Gradient: 4.2 min/flow: 2 ml/min 99:01-0:100

-   -   Water+0.1% (vol.) of TFA: acetonitrile+0.1% (vol.) of TFA     -   0.0 to 0.2 min: 99:01     -   0.2 to 3.8 min: 99:01--->0:100     -   3.8 to 4.2 min: 0:100     -   Column: Chromolith Performance RP18e; 100 mm long, internal         diameter 3 mm     -   Wavelength: 220 nm         Retention time Rt. in minutes [min].

EXAMPLE 1

The preparation of 3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A1”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

1.1 2.70 kg (18.0 mol) of sodium iodide are added in portions at room temperature to a mixture of 5.0 l of water and 11.3 l of 57% aqueous hydroiodic acid (75.2 mol). 2.00 kg (13.4 mol) of 3,6-dichloropyridazine are subsequently added in portions to the solution held at 20° C. The reaction mixture is stirred at 20° C. for 18 hours. 10 l of tert-butyl methyl ether and 4 l of water are added to the reaction mixture. The organic phase is separated off, washed with water and aqueous sodium sulfite solution. The organic phase is evaporated, heptane is added, the resultant solid is filtered off with suction and washed with heptane. The residue is dried in vacuo: 3-chloro-6-iodopyridazine as colourless leaf-shaped crystals; ESI 241.

1.2 705 g (3.39 mol) of pinacolyl 1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-boronate and 1.44 kg of tripotassium phosphate trihydrate are added to a solution of 815 g (3.39 mol) of 3-chloro-6-iodopyridazine in 3.8 l of 1,2-dimethoxy-ethane. The resultant suspension is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen and with stirring, and 59.5 g (85 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II)-chloride are added. The reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours. The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature, and 9 l of water are added. The resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed with water and dried in vacuo: 3-chloro-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridazine as brown crystals; ESI 195.

1.3 4.86 ml (100 mmol) of hydrazinium hydroxide are added to a solution of 11.5 g (50.0 mmol) of methyl 3-bromophenylacetate in 35 ml of 1-butanol, and the mixture is heated at the boil for 90 minutes. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature. The resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed with petroleum ether and dried in vacuo: (3-bromophenyl)acetohydrazide as colourless fine needles; ESI 229, 231.

1.4 A suspension of 3.89 g (20.0 mmol) of 3-chloro-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridazine and 4.58 g (20.0 mmol) of (3-bromophenyl)acetohydrazide in 40 ml of 1-butanol is heated at 130° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled and partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/tert-butyl methyl ether/methanol as eluent: 3-(3-bromobenzyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo-[4,3-b]pyridazine as beige crystals; ESI 369, 371.

1.5 1.57 mg (16.0 mmol) of potassium acetate are added to a solution of 2.10 g (5.35 mmol) of 3-(3-bromobenzyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine and 1.77 g (6.95 mmol) of bis(pinacolato)-diboron in 11 ml of DMF, and the mixture is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 118 mg (0.16 mmol) of 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium(II) dichloride are then added, and the mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours. The reaction mixture is partitioned between water and dichloromethane. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is heated with tert-butyl methyl ether, allowed to cool and filtered off with suction and washed with tert-butyl methyl ether and dried in vacuo: 6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as grey crystals; ESI 417.

1.6 A solution of 581 mg (5.48 mmol) of sodium carbonate in 2.7 ml of water is added to a suspension of 1.14 g (2.74 mmol) of 6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine in 2.7 ml of toluene and 5.4 ml of ethanol, and the mixture is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 780 mg (2.74 mmol) of 5-bromo-2-iodopyrimidine and 38.4 mg (0.06 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium-(II) chloride are then added, and the reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. under nitrogen for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is partitioned between water and dichloromethane. The organic phase is evaporated, and the residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with petroleum ether/dichloromethane/methanol as eluent: 3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A1”) as colourless crystals; ESI 447/449;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=3.93 (s, 3H), 4.63 (s, 2H), 7.50 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (dt, J₁=7.5 Hz, J₂=1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 8.23 (dt, J₁=7.4 Hz, J₂=1.3 Hz, 1H), 8.32 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.48 (t, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.51 (s, 1H), 9.06 (s, 2H).

EXAMPLE 2

The preparation of 6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(3-{5-[1-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl}benzyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A2”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

2.1 17.5 g (101 mmol) of N-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride and 49.4 g (152 mmol) of caesium carbonate are added to a solution of 10.0 g (50.5 mmol) of pinacolyl pyrazole-4-boronate in 100 ml of acetonitrile. The resultant suspension is stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered with suction and washed with acetonitrile. The filtrate is evaporated and partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated: 1-(2-pyrrolidin-1-ylethyl)-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole as pale-orange oil, which gradually crystallises;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=1.25 (s, 12H), 1.65 (m, 4H), 2.44 (m, 4H), 2.79 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 4.21 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (s, 1H), 7.93 (s, 1H).

2.2 A suspension of 112 mg (0.25 mmol) of 3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)-benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine, 100 mg (0.30 mmol) of 1-(2-pyrrolidin-1-ylethyl)-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole and 106 mg (0.50 mmol) of tripotassium phosphate trihydrate in 2 ml of 1,2-dimethoxyethane is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 14 mg (20 μmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride and one drop of triethylamine are then added, and the mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 6 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled and partitioned between water and dichloro-methane. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol as eluent: 6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(3-{5-[1-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl}benzyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A2”) as colourless crystals; ESI 532;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=1.67 (m, 4H), 2.48 (m, 4H), 2.87 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 3.93 (s, 3H), 4.27 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 4.64 (s, 2H), 7.48 (t, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.57 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.09 (s, 1H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 8.26 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.33 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.44 (s, 1H), 8.50 (bs, 1H), 8.52 (s, 1H), 9.12 (s, 2H).

EXAMPLE 3

The preparation of 3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A3”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

3.1 12.3 ml (253 mmol) of hydrazinium hydroxide are added to a solution of 15.0 g (50.5 mmol) of ethyl (3-bromophenyl) difluoroacetate (prepared in accordance with WO2007/014454) in 200 ml of methanol, and the mixture is stirred at 45° C. for 10 minutes. The reaction mixture is evaporated. The residue is taken up in dichloromethane and filtered. The residue is taken up in water, filtered, washed with water and dried in vacuo: (3-bromophenyl)difluoroacetohydrazide as slightly yellowish crystals; ESI 265/267.

3.2 A suspension of 4.18 g (20.0 mmol) of 3-chloro-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridazine and 5.46 g (20.0 mmol) of (3-bromophenyl)difluoro-acetohydrazide in 87 ml of 1-butanol is heated at 30° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled and stirred at room temperature for 4 days. The resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, and the residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol as eluent: 3-[(3-bromophenyl)difluoromethyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as colourless solid; ESI 405/407.

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=3.95 (s, 3H), 7.55 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.86 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 7.97 (s, 1H), 8.09 (s, 1H), 8.49 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 8.51 (s, 1H).

3.3 2.45 g (25.0 mmol) of potassium acetate are added to a solution of 3.38 g (8.33 mmol of 3-[(3-bromophenyl)difluoromethyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine and 2.65 g (10.4 mmol) of bis-(pinacolato)diboron in 17 ml of DMF, and the mixture is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 175 mg (0.25 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium-(II) chloride are then added, and the mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is partitioned between water and dichloromethane. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is heated with tert-butyl methyl ether, allowed to cool and filtered off with suction and washed with tert-butyl methyl ether and dried in vacuo: 3-{difluoro-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]methyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as colourless crystals; ESI 453.

3.4 A solution of 1.07 g (10.1 mmol) of sodium carbonate in 5 ml of water is added to a suspension of 2.31 g (5.06 mmol) of 3-{difluoro-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]methyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine in 5 ml of toluene and 10 ml of ethanol, and the mixture is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 1.44 g (5.06 mmol) of 5-bromo-2-iodopyrimidine and 71 mg (0.10 mmol) of bis(tri-phenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride are then added, and the reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. under nitrogen for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, water is added, and the mixture is filtered with suction. The residue is taken up in ethanol, stirred for a few minutes and filtered off with suction again. The residue is dried in vacuo: 3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as beige powder; ESI 483,485;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=3.92 (s, 3H), 7.76 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J=9.9 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (s, 2H), 8.46 (s, 2H), 8.47 (d, J=9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.58 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.80 (bs, 1H), 9.18 (s, 2H).

The compound 3-(3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]-pyridazin-6-yl)benzonitrile (“A3a”)

ESI 504/506, is obtained analogously.

EXAMPLE 4

Analogously to the preparation of “A1”, compound “A4” is obtained starting from methyl 1-(3-bromophenyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate

EXAMPLE 5

The preparation of 3-{3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]-pyridazin-6-yl}benzonitrile (“A5”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

5.1 A solution of 10.6 g (100 mmol) of sodium carbonate in 50 ml of water is added to a solution of 7.34 g (50.0 mol) of 3-cyanobenzene-boronic acid and 12.0 g (50.0 mmol) of 3-chloro-6-iodopyridazine in 100 ml of ethanol and 50 ml of toluene, and the mixture is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 351 mg (0.50 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride are then added. The reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 18 hours. The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature, the resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction and washed with water. The residue is recrystallised from 2-propanol: 3-(6-chloropyridazin-3-yl)benzonitrile as brown crystals; ESI 216.

5.2 A suspension of 3.33 g (15.0 mmol) of 3-chloro-6-(3-cyanophenyl)-pyridazine and 3.47 g (15.0 mmol) of (3-bromophenyl)acetohydrazide in 30 ml of 1-butanol is heated at 130° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled, ethyl acetate and water are added. The resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed well with water and dried in vacuo: 3-[3-(3-bromobenzyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl]benzonitrile as brown crystals; ESI 390/392.

5.3 Further as in the preparation of “A3”. 3-{3-[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}-benzonitrile (“A5”), ESI 468/470, is obtained.

EXAMPLE 6

Analogously to the preparation of “A1”, compound “A6” is obtained starting from 1-chloro-4-methylpyridazine (preparation in accordance with EP1422218)

EXAMPLE 7

The following compounds are obtained analogously to the preparation of “A2”

Compound No. Name and/or structure ESI “A7”

568 ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm] = 1.68 (m, 4H), 2.50 (m, 4H), 2.89 (bs, 2H), 3.90 (s, 3H), 4.29 (t, J = 6 Hz, 2H), 7.74 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 8.11 (s, 2H), 8.46 (s, 2H), 8.47 (d, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.58 (d, J = 7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.80 (bs, 1H), 9.18 (s, 2H) “A8”

558 ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm] = 1.57 (s, 2H), 1.68 (m, 6H), 2.50 (m, 4H), 2.88 (t, J = 6.1 Hz, 2H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 4.28 (t, J = 6.1 Hz, 2H), 7.47 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.07 (s, 1H), 8.09 (s, 1H), 8.24 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 8.30 (d, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.38 (s, 1H), 8.43 (s, 1H), 8.52 (bs, 1H), 9.13 (s, 2H) “A9”

466

EXAMPLE 8

The preparation of 6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-[3-(5-morpholin-4-yl-pyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A10”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

EXAMPLE 8a

The preparation of the compound 3-{3-[5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A11”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

A suspension of 546 mg (1.22 mmol) of 3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)-benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine and 366 mg (2.44 mmol) of sodium iodide in 6 ml of DMF is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen. 26 mg (0.18 mmol) of trans-N,N′-dimethyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, 18.6 mg (0.100 mmol) of copper(I) iodide and 6 ml of dioxane are then added, and the resultant suspension is stirred at a temperature of 95° C. under nitrogen for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is partitioned between water and dichloromethane. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol as eluent: 3-[3-(5-iodopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as brown crystals; ESI 495.

A suspension of 288 mg (0.582 mmol) of 3-[3-(5-iodopyrimidin-2-yl)-benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine in 1.5 ml of toluene is heated to 110° C. under nitrogen and cooled to room temperature. 178 mg (0.815 mmol) of tripotassium phosphate, 97 μl (0.874 mmol) of 1-methylpiperazine, 19.7 mg (0.047 mmol) of 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl and 10.7 mmol (0.012 mmol) of tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium are then added, and the resultant suspension is stirred at 110° C. under nitrogen for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, and ethyl acetate is added. The resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, and the residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol as eluent: 3-{3-[5-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as beige crystals; ESI 467;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=2.31 (s, 3H), 2.58 (m, 4H), 3.34 (m, 4H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 4.61 (s, 2H), 7.42 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.67 (d, J=9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (s, 1H), 8.32 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.39 (bs, 1H), 8.51 (s, 1H), 8.58 (s, 2H).

The following compounds are obtained analogously

Compound No. Name and/or structure “A10” 6-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-[3-(5-morpholin-4- ylpyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A16”

503 ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm] = 2.30 (s, 3H), 2.56 (m, 4H), 3.36 (m, 4H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 7.67 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J = 9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 8.45 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 8.46 (s, 1H), 8.47 (d, J = 9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.63 (s, 2H) 8.69 (bs, 1H) “A17”

401

EXAMPLE 9

The preparation of 3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]-phenyl}methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A12”) and 3-[difluoro-(3-pyrimidin-2-ylphenyl)methyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A26”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

20 mg (0.105 mmol) of copper(I) iodide and 25 μl (0.16 mmol) of trans-N,N′-dimethyl-1,2-cyclohexanediamine are added to a suspension, kept under argon, of 700 mg (1.41 mmol) of 3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)-phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]-pyridazine and 449 mg (2.93 mmol) of sodium iodide in 3 ml of dioxane, and the mixture is stirred at 110° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, water is added, and the resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction. The residue is stirred with acetonitrile, filtered off with suction, and the residue is dried in vacuo: 3-{difluoro-[3-(5-iodopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]methyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]-pyridazine as beige crystals; ESI 531.

207 μl (1.68 mmol) of 2-morpholinoethanol are added to a suspension, kept under argon, of 593 mg (1.12 mmol) of 3-{difluoro-[3-(5-iodopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]methyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine, 547 mg (1.68 mmol) of caesium carbonate, 21.3 mg (0.11 mmol) of copper(I) iodide and 53 mg (0.22 mmol) of 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline in 4 ml of toluene, and the mixture is stirred at 100° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, water and dichloromethane are added, and the mixture is filtered with suction through kieselguhr. The organic phase is separated off, washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is chromatographed on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol as eluent, giving two products:

3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as colourless crystals; ESI 534; ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=2.50 (m, 4H), 2.75 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 3.59 (m, 4H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 4.34 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 7.71 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.85 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.13 (s, 1H), 8.48 (s, 1H), 8.48 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.50 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 8.71 (s, 2H), 8.73 (bs, 1H) and 3-[difluoro-(3-pyrimidin-2-ylphenyl)methyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine as colourless crystals; ESI 406; ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=3.90 (s, 3H), 7.52 (t, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=9.7 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.13 (s, 1H), 8.46 (d, J=9.7 Hz, 1H), 8.47 (s, 1H), 8.59 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 8.85 (bs, 1H), 8.96 (d, J=4.7 Hz, 2H). Relevant literature: R. A. Altman et al., J. Org. Chem. 73, p. 284 (2008).

The following compounds are obtained analogously

Compound No. Name and/or structure “A13”

“A14”

“A15”

EXAMPLE 10

The compound 3-{1-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]ethyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A18”)

ESI 462, is obtained analogously to the preparation of “A4” starting from methyl 2-(3-bromophenyl)propionate.

EXAMPLE 11

The following compounds are obtained analogously to the preparation of “A7”

Compound No. Name and/or structure ESI “A19”

589 “A20”

553 “A21”

502 “A22”

546 ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm] = 1.69 (m, 4H), 1.90 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 3H), 2.54 (m, 4H), 2.91 (bs, 2H), 3.90 (s, 3H), 4.29 (t, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H), 4.96 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.48 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.60 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (d, J = 9.9 Hz, 1H), 8.10 (s, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 8.24 (d, J = 7.6 Hz, 1H), 8.30 (d, J = 9.9 Hz, 1H), 8.44 (s, 1H), 8.46 (s, 1H), 8.50 (bs, 1H), 9.13 (s, 2H) “A23”

524 ”A24”

509/511 ¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm] = 2.65 (m, 1H), 2.98 (m, 4H), 3.35 (m, 4H), 7.68 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 8.07 Hz (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.34 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 8.45 (s, 1H), 8.48 (d, J = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 8.61 (s, 2H), 8.66 (d, J = 9.7 Hz, 1H), 8.70 (bs, 1H) “A25”

437

EXAMPLE 12

The preparation of 3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A27”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

-   1. 29.4 g (300 mmol) of potassium acetate are added to a solution,     kept under nitrogen, of 27.9 g (100 mmol) of ethyl     (3-bromophenyl)difluoroacetate (prepared in accordance with     WO2007/014454) and 31.7 g (125 mmol) of bis(pinacolato)diboron in     200 ml of THF, and the mixture is heated to 80° C. 2.11 g (3.00     mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride are then     added, and the mixture is stirred at 90° C. for 42 hours. The     reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, and saturated sodium     chloride solution is added. The organic phase is separated off,     dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated: crude ethyl     difluoro-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]acetate     (ESI 327) as orange-brown oil, which is employed in the subsequent     reaction without further purification. -   2. A solution of 21 g (198 mmol) of sodium carbonate in 100 ml of     water is added to a solution, kept under nitrogen, of 54.7 g (about     99 mmol) of ethyl     difluoro-[3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]acetate     in 100 ml of toluene and 200 ml of ethanol, and the mixture is     heated to 80° C. 33.8 g (119 mmol) of 5-bromo-2-iodopyrimidine and     1.39 g (1.98 mmol) of bis-(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride     are then added, and the reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. under     nitrogen for 66 hours. The reaction mixture is evaporated and     partitioned between THF and saturated sodium chloride solution. The     organic phase is evaporated, and the residue is stirred with     2-propanol: 3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoroacetic acid as     beige crystals; ESI 329/331.

An analogous preparation starting from methyl [3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]acetate, which is prepared in accordance with J. Med. Chem. 50(6), 1101-115 (2007), gives:

3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]acetic acid (melting point 211-213° C.)

-   3. 15.2 ml of trimethyl orthoformate and 1.8 ml of conc. sulfuric     acid are added to a suspension of 15.2 g (46.2 mmol) of     3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)-phenyl]difluoroacetic acid in 45 ml of     methanol, and the mixture is stirred at 35° C. for 24 hours. Water     is added to the reaction mixture. The resultant precipitate is     filtered off with suction, washed with water and dried in vacuo:     methyl [3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoroacetate as beige     crystals; ESI 343/345.

The following is prepared analogously:

-   4. A suspension of 12.1 g (35.2 mmol) of methyl     [3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoroacetate in 140 ml of     methanol is warmed to 45° C., and 8.57 ml (176 mmol) of hydrazinium     hydroxide are added. A clear solution initially forms, then again a     precipitate. After the reaction mixture has been stirred at 45° C.     for 18 hours, water is added, the precipitate is filtered off with     suction, washed with water and dried in vacuo:     [3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoroacetohydrazide as brownish     crystals; ESI 343, 345;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=4.58 (bs, 2H), 7.71 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.52 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.58 (s, 1H), 9.13 (s, 2H), 10.4 (bs, 1H).

The following is prepared analogously (reaction temperature 70° C.):

[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]acetohydrazide; ESI 307/309; m.p. 229-231° C.

-   5. A solution of 900 mg (7.0 mmol) of 3-chloro-6-methylpyridazine     and 2.40 g (7.00 mmol) of     [3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoroacetohydrazide in 28 ml of     1-butanol is heated at 130° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is     cooled to room temperature. The resultant precipitate is filtered     off with suction, washed with 2-propanol and dried in vacuo:     3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]-pyridazine     as grey crystals; ESI 417/419;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=2.64 (s, 3H), 7.51 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.46 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 8.63 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 8.76 (bs, 1H), 9.19 (s, 2H).

The following are likewise prepared by this method:

3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A1”) and

3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A3”).

EXAMPLE 13

The preparation of 3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]-phenyl}methyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A28”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

-   1. 827 mg (8.43 mmol) of potassium acetate are added to a solution,     kept under nitrogen, of 1.17 g (2.81 mmol) of     3-{[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]-difluoromethyl}-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine     and 892 mg (3.51 mmol) of bis(pinacolato)diboron in 6 ml of THF, and     the mixture is heated to 80° C. 30 mg (0.056 mmol) of     bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride are then added, and     the reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 18 hours. The reaction     mixture is cooled to room temperature, filtered and rinsed with a     little THF. 10 ml of water and 476 mg (3.09 mmol) of sodium     perborate tetrahydrate are added to the filtrate, and the mixture is     stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is     acidified using 1 N HCl, and the THF is removed in vacuo. The     resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed with     water and dried in vacuo:     2-{3-[difluoro(6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo-[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl)methyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-ol     as brown crystals; ESI 355.

The following are prepared analogously:

2-(3-{difluoro-[6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl]methyl}phenyl)pyrimidin-5-ol (“A29”); colourless crystals, ESI 421;

2-{3-[6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl-methyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-ol (“A30”); colourless crystals, ESI 385.

-   2. 119 μl (0.60 mmol) of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate are slowly     added dropwise with stirring to a suspension of 177 mg (0.50 mmol)     of     2-{3-[difluoro-(6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl)methyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-ol,     80.4 μl (0.65 mmol) of 2-morpholinoethanol and 157 mg (0.60 mmol) of     triphenylphosphine in 1 ml of THF. The resultant solution is stirred     at room temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is evaporated     and chromatographed on a silica-gel column with     dichloromethane/methanol as eluent:     3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine     as colourless crystals; ESI 468;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=2.51 (m, 4H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 2.75 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 2H), 3.58 (m, 4H), 4.33 (t, J=5.4 Hz, 2H), 7.44 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 7.70 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 8.39 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 8.51 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 8.63 (bs, 1H), 8.69 (s, 2H).

The following are prepared analogously

3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(2-methoxyethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A31”)

ESI 479; 2-[2-(3-{difluoro-[6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl]methyl}phenyl)pyrimidin-5-yloxy]ethanol (“A32”) (via the 2-acetoxyethoxy derivative and hydrolysis of the ester using sodium hydroxide/methanol)

ESI 465; 3-{3-[5-(2-methoxyethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A33”)

ESI 443; 2-(2-{3-[6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-ylmethyl]-phenyl}pyrimidin-5-yloxy)ethanol (“A34”) (via the 2-acetoxyethoxy derivative and hydrolysis of the ester using sodium hydroxide/methanol)

ESI 429; 3-[3-(5-methoxypyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A35”)

ESI 399; 3-{3-[5-(3-methoxypropoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzyl}-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A36”)

ESI 457; 3-(3-{5-[2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)ethoxy]pyrimidin-2-yl}benzyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A37”)

ESI 511;

(via the 3-acetoxypropoxy derivative and hydrolysis of the ester using sodium hydroxide/methanol);

EXAMPLE 14

The preparation of 3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(1-methylpiperidin-4-ylmethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A41”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

-   1. 109 μl (0.55 mmol) of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate are slowly     added dropwise with stirring to a suspension of 177 mg (0.50 mmol)     of     2-{3-[difluoro(6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl)methyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-ol,     129 mg (0.60 mmol) of tert-butyl     4-hydroxymethylpiperidine-1-carboxylate and 144 mg (0.55 mmol) of     triphenylphosphine in 1 ml of THF, and the reaction mixture is     stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture is     diluted with 2-propanol and cooled to 0° C. The resultant     precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed with 2-propanol and     dried in vacuo: tert-butyl     4-(2-{3-[difluoro-(6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl)methyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-yloxymethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate     as beige crystals; ESI 552. -   2. A solution of 20 mg of paraformaldehyde in 1 ml of formic acid is     stirred at 80° C. for 1 hour, cooled to room temperature and then     added dropwise to a suspension, kept at 80° C., of 195 mg (0.353     mmol) of tertbutyl     4-(2-{3-[difluoro(6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl)methyl]-phenyl}pyrimidin-5-yloxymethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate     in 1 ml of dioxane. The reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 18     hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, THF,     saturated sodium chloride solution and 1.7 ml of 50% sodium     hydroxide solution are added. The organic phase is separated off,     dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue is purified by     preparative HPLC:     3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl-methoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine,     trifluoroacetate as colourless crystals; ESI 466;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=1.53 (m, 2H), 2.01 (m, 2H), 2.07 (m, 1H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 2.78 (s, 3H), 2.99 (m, 2H), 3.49 (m, 2H), 4.12 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 2H), 7.44 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.40 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 8.51 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 8.63 (bs, 1H), 8.69 (s, 2H), 9.49 (bs, 1H).

The compound 3-(difluoro-{3-[5-(1-methylpiperidin-4-ylmethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]-phenyl}methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine (“A42”)

is obtained analogously (purification by chromatography on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol); colourless crystals, ESI 532;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=1.32 (m, 2H), 1.74 (m, 3H), 1.85 (t, J=11 Hz, 2H), 2.15 (s, 3H), 2.78 (d, J=11 Hz, 2H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 4.06 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 7.70 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (m, 2H), 8.11 (s, 1H), 8.47 (m, 3H), 8.67 (s, 2H), 8.73 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 15

The preparation of 2-(4-{3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo-[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol (“A43”) and 2-(4-{3-[3-(5-methyl-pyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol (“A44”) is carried out analogously to the following scheme

-   1. 2.93 g (9.09 mmol) of     1-[2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)ethyl]-4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole     (prepared by reaction of     4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole and     2-(2-bromoethoxy)tetrahydropyran with caesium carbonate in     acetonitrile) and 4.25 g (20.0 mmol) of tripotassium phosphate     trihydrate are added to a solution of 2.40 g (10.0 mmol) of     3-chloro-6-iodopyridazine in 12 ml of 1,2-dimethoxyethane. The     resultant suspension is heated to 80° C. under nitrogen and with     stirring, and 210 mg (0.30 mmol) of     bis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(II) chloride are added. The     reaction mixture is stirred at 80° C. for 18 hours. The mixture is     allowed to cool to room temperature, and 60 ml of water and 30 ml of     dichloromethane are added. The organic phase is separated off,     washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated:     3-chloro-6-{1-[2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)ethyl]-1H-pyrazol-4-yl}pyridazine     as brown wax-like solid; ESI 309. -   2. A suspension of 1.02 g (3.26 mmol) of     3-chloro-6-{1-[2-(tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)ethyl]-1H-pyrazol-4-yl}pyridazine,     1.00 g of [3-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]acetohydrazide and 54 mg     (0.33 mmol) of potassium iodide in 18 ml of 1-butanol is heated to     reflux, during which a clear solution forms. The reaction mixture is     kept under reflux for 20 hours and then cooled to room temperature.     The resultant precipitate is filtered off with suction, washed with     acetone and dried in vacuo:     2-(4-{3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol     as brownish crystals; ESI 477/479; m.p. 237-239° C. -   3. 630 μl (1.26 mmol) of a 2 M solution of trimethylaluminium in     toluene and 50 mg (0.04 mmol) of     tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium are added to a solution of 300     mg (0.63 mmol) of     2-(4-{3-[3-(5-bromopyrimidin-2-yl)-benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol     in 6 ml of THF, and the mixture is heated at the boil for 16 hours.     The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, methanol is     added, and the mixture is evaporated. The residue is chromatographed     on a silica-gel column with dichloromethane/methanol as eluent:     2-(4-{3-[3-(5-methylpyrimidin-2-yl)-benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol     as colourless crystals; ESI 413; m.p. 204-206° C.;

¹H-NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ [ppm]=2.31 (s, 3H), 3.78 (m, 2H), 4.22 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 4.63 (s, 2H), 4.95 (bs, 1H), 7.46 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 7.69 (d, J=9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.23 (m, 2H), 8.31 (d, J=9.8 Hz, 1H), 8.51 (bs, 1H), 8.52 (s, 1H), 8.74 (s, 2H).

Pharmacological Data

Met Kinase Inhibition

TABLE 1 Compound No. IC₅₀ (enzyme) IC₅₀ (cell) “A1” A A “A2” A “A3” A A “A3a” A A “A4” A B “A5” A A “A6” A B “A7” A A “A8” A A “A9” A A “A11” A A “A12” A A “A16” A A “A17” A A “A18” “A19” A A “A20” A A “A21” A A “A22” A A “A23” A A “A24” A A “A25” A A “A26” A A “A27” A A “A28” A “A29” “A30” B “A31” A “A32” A “A33” B “A34” A “A35” A “A36” A “A37” A “A41” A A “A42” A “A43” A A “A44” A IC₅₀: 1 nM-0.1 μM = A 0.1 μM-10 μM = B >10 μM = C

The following examples relate to medicaments:

EXAMPLE A Injection Vials

A solution of 100 g of an active ingredient of the formula I and 5 g of di-sodium hydrogenphosphate in 3 l of bidistilled water is adjusted to pH 6.5 using 2 N hydrochloric acid, sterile filtered, transferred into injection vials, lyophilised under sterile conditions and sealed under sterile conditions. Each injection vial contains 5 mg of active ingredient.

EXAMPLE B Suppositories

A mixture of 20 g of an active ingredient of the formula I with 100 g of soya lecithin and 1400 g of cocoa butter is melted, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. Each suppository contains 20 mg of active ingredient.

EXAMPLE C Solution

A solution is prepared from 1 g of an active ingredient of the formula I, 9.38 g of NaH₂PO₄.2H₂O, 28.48 g of Na₂HPO₄.12H₂O and 0.1 g of benzalkonium chloride in 940 ml of bidistilled water. The pH is adjusted to 6.8, and the solution is made up to 1 l and sterilised by irradiation. This solution can be used in the form of eye drops.

EXAMPLE D Ointment

500 mg of an active ingredient of the formula I are mixed with 99.5 g of Vaseline under aseptic conditions.

EXAMPLE E Tablets

A mixture of 1 kg of active ingredient of the formula I, 4 kg of lactose, 1.2 kg of potato starch, 0.2 kg of talc and 0.1 kg of magnesium stearate is pressed in a conventional manner to give tablets in such a way that each tablet contains 10 mg of active ingredient.

EXAMPLE F Dragees

Tablets are pressed analogously to Example E and subsequently coated in a conventional manner with a coating of sucrose, potato starch, talc, tragacanth and dye.

EXAMPLE G Capsules

2 kg of active ingredient of the formula I are introduced into hard gelatine capsules in a conventional manner in such a way that each capsule contains 20 mg of the active ingredient.

EXAMPLE H Ampoules

A solution of 1 kg of active ingredient of the formula I in 60 l of bidistilled water is sterile filtered, transferred into ampoules, lyophilised under sterile conditions and sealed under sterile conditions. Each ampoule contains 10 mg of active ingredient. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A compound of formula I

in which R¹ denotes Ar, Het or A, R² denotes H, A, Hal, OR⁵, N(R⁵)₂, N═CR⁵N(R⁵)₂, SR⁵, NO₂, CN, COOR⁵, CON(R⁵)₂, NR⁵COA, NR⁵SO₂A, SO₂N(R⁵)₂, S(O)_(m)A, Het, —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, S[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, S[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, —NR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, —NR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, NHCON(R⁵)₂, NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)—N(R⁵)₂, NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, NHCO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, CON(R⁵)₂, CONR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, CONR⁵[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, COHet or COA, R³, R^(3′) each, independently of one another, denote H, F or A, or together denote alkylene having 2-5 C atoms, R⁴ denotes H, A or Hal, R⁵ denotes H or A, A denotes unbranched or branched alkyl having 1-10 C atoms, in which 1-7 H atoms are optionally replaced by OH, F, Cl and/or Br, and/or in which one or two CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O, NH, S, SO, SO₂ and/or CH═CH groups, or cyclic alkyl having 3-7 C atoms, Ar denotes phenyl, naphthyl or biphenyl, each of which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal, A, OR⁵, N(R⁵)₂, SR⁵, NO₂, CN, COOR⁵, CON(R⁵)₂, NR⁵COA, NR⁵SO₂A, SO₂N(R⁵)₂ and/or S(O)_(m)A, Het denotes a mono-, bi- or tricyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal, A, OR^(S), N(R⁵)₂, SR^(S), NO₂, CN, COOR⁵, CON(R⁵)₂, NR⁵COA, NR⁵SO₂A, SO₂N(R⁵)₂, S(O)_(m)A, CO-Het¹, Het¹, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, NHCOOA, NHCON(R⁵)₂, NHCOO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCOO[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, NHCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, OCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)N(R⁵)₂, OCONH[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, CO-Het¹, CHO, COA, ═S, ═NH, ═NA and/or ═O, Het¹ denotes a monocyclic saturated heterocycle having 1 to 2 N and/or O atoms, which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by A, OA, OH, Hal and/or ═O, Hal denotes F, Cl, Br or I, m denotes 0, 1 or 2, and n denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 2. A compound according to claim 1, in which R² denotes H, OH, OA, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵, Hal, Het, —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het or O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 3. A compound according to claim 1, in which Ar denotes phenyl which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal and/or CN, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 4. A compound according to claim 1, in which A denotes unbranched or branched alkyl having 1-6 C atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 5. A compound according to claim 1, in which R⁴ denotes H, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 6. A compound according to claim 1, in which R¹ denotes thiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl, which are optionally mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or A, or phenyl, which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal and/or CN, or A, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 7. A compound according to claim 1, in which Het denotes a monocyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 8. A compound according to claim 1, in which Het denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, furyl, thienyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl or imidazolidinyl, which are optionally mono- or disubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 9. A compound according to claim 1, in which Het¹ denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl or imidazolidinyl, which are optionally mono- or disubstituted by ═O and/or A, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 10. A compound Compounds according to claim 1, in which R¹ denotes Ar, Het or A, R² denotes H, OH, OA, O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵, Hal, Het, —[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het or O[C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het, R³, R³′ each, independently of one another, denote H, F or A, or together denote alkylene having 2-5 C atoms, R⁴ denotes H, R⁵ denotes H or A, A denotes unbranched or branched alkyl having 1-6 C atoms, Ar denotes phenyl, which is mono-, di- or trisubstituted by Hal and/or CN, Het denotes a monocyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic heterocycle having 1 to 4 N, O and/or S atoms, which is unsubstituted or mono-, di- or trisubstituted by A, [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)OR⁵ and/or [C(R⁵)₂]_(n)Het¹, Het¹ denotes piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl or imidazolidinyl, which is optionally mono- or disubstituted by ═O and/or A, Hal denotes F, Cl, Br or I, and n denotes 1, 2, 3 or 4, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 11. A compound, which is one of the following compounds No. Structure and/or name “A1” 3-[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol- 4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A2” 6-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(3-{5-[1-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl- ethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]pyrimidin-2-yl}benzyl)-1,2,4- triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A3” 3-{[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A3a” 3-(3-{[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-1,2,4- triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl)benzonitrile “A4”

“A5” 3-{3-[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]- pyridazin-6-yl}benzonitrile “A6”

“A7”

“A8”

“A9”

“A10” 6-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-[3-(5-morpholin-4-yl-pyrimidin- 2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine ”A11”

“A12” 3-(Difluoro-{3-[5-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]- phenyl}methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3- b]pyridazine “A13”

“A14”

“A15”

“A16”

“A17”

“A18”

“A19”

“A20”

“A21”

“A22”

“A23”

“A24”

“A25”

“A26” 3-[Difluoro-(3-pyrimidin-2-ylphenyl)methyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A27” 3-{[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)phenyl]difluoromethyl}-6-methyl- 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A28” 3-(Difluoro-{3-[5-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]- phenyl}methyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A29” 2-(3-{Difluoro-[6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3- b]pyridazin-3-yl]methyl}phenyl)pyrimidin-5-ol ”A30” 2-{3-[6-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]- pyridazin-3-ylmethyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-ol “A31” 3-(Difluoro-{3-[5-(2-methoxyethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]phenyl}- methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4- triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A32” 2-[2-(3-{Difluoro-[6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4- triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin-3-yl]methyl}phenyl)pyrimidin-5-yloxy]- ethanol “A33” 3-{3-[5-(2-Methoxyethoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzyl}-6-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A34” 2-(2-{3-[6-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]- pyridazin-3-ylmethyl]phenyl}pyrimidin-5-yloxy)ethanol “A35” 3-[3-(5-Methoxypyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol- 4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A36” 3-{3-[5-(3-Methoxypropoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzyl}-6-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A37” 3-(3-{5-[2-(4-Methylpiperazin-1-yl)ethoxy]pyrimidin-2-yl}- benzyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]-pyridazine “A38”

“A39”

“A40”

”A41” 3-(Difluoro-{3-[5-(1-methylpiperidin-4-ylmethoxy)pyrimidin-2- yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A42” 3-(Difluoro-{3-[5-(1-methylpiperidin-4-ylmethoxy)pyrimidin-2- yl]phenyl}methyl)-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,2,4- triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine “A43” 2-(4-{3-[3-(5-Bromopyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl]-1,2,4-triazolo- [4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol “A44” 2-(4-{3-[3-(5-Methylpyrimidin-2-yl)benzyl}-1,2,4-triazolo- [4,3-b]pyridazin-6-yl}pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof.
 12. A process for preparing a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, comprising a) reacting a compound of formula II

in which R¹, R³, R³′ and R⁴ have the meanings indicated for the compound of formula I, and L denotes a boronic acid or boronic acid ester radical, with a compound of formula III

in which R² has the meaning indicated for the compound of formula I, or b) a radical R² is replaced by another radical R² by replacing a halogen atom by an amino, alkoxy or aryl radical, and/or converting a base or acid compound of formula I into one of its salts.
 13. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and/or adjuvants.
 14. A method for the treatment of a disease in which the inhibition of Met kinase plays a role, comprising administering to a patient having said disease an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 13. 15. A method according to claim 14, where the disease is a solid tumour.
 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the solid tumour originates from the squamous epithelium, the bladder, the stomach, the kidney, head and neck, the oesophagus, the cervix, the thyroid, the intestine, the liver, the brain, the prostate, the urogenital tract, the lymphatic system, the stomach, the larynx or the lung.
 17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the solid tumour originates from monocytic leukaemia, lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma or breast carcinoma.
 18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the solid tumour originates from lung adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, colon carcinoma or breast carcinoma.
 19. A method according to claim 14, wherein the disease is a tumour of the blood or immune system.
 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the tumour originates from acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphatic leukaemia or chronic lymphatic leukaemia.
 21. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 13, further comprising a pharmaceutically active ingredient other than the compound of formula I.
 22. Set (kit) comprising separate packs of (a) a compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, and (b) a pharmaceutically active ingredient other than the compound of formula I. 